CANNABIS PROHIBITION COUNTERPRODUCTIVE

I'M AN American, but there is something I need to say to your readers.
Having just learned of your Parliament's consideration to decriminalize
marijuana, I was compelled to let you know how I feel about it.

I'm a 65-year-old retired law enforcement (parole) officer. I enjoyed the
rather benign effects of marijuana on a casual basis throughout the '60s
and '70s, as did many of my friends (and colleagues).

While I do not believe anyone should smoke anything, and that minors should
not have access to any kind of intoxicant, I do believe the criminalization
of this relatively innocuous euphoric tranquilizer, such as exists in my
increasingly authoritarian country, is unnecessary and is totally
counterproductive.

I am of the firm opinion that marijuana prohibition is at once a
significant waste of valuable law enforcement resources, an extreme waste
of tax revenue, a major source of official corruption and it accounts for
the social ruin of many decent, productive citizens.

The force of criminal law should be reserved for punishing those who harm
others, therefore I am hoping your Parliament will not yield to pressures
deriving from my government's irrational drug policies but will act to
relieve your citizens of the needlessly destructive and corrupting
influence of marijuana prohibition.

Manfred (Mike) Kessler

Lakewood, N.J.

(We don't think our Parliament is quite so free-thinking just yet)