MORE REEFER MADNESS

To The Editor,

In response to DA Richards letter....The people who are in favor of
decriminalization and legalization are gaining momentum and aren't going to
be slowed downed for lack of a North Country DA's validation.

Not all convicted felons are in prison because the were dealing heavily or
caught with large amounts.Quite the opposite and the reason for my
opposition of harsh drug laws.

If caught with even a gram of marijuana you will go to jail lose your car
and pay ridiculously heavy fines.Contrary to the DA's statement they don't
offer marijuana rehabilitation..before they send you to jail.So this venue
isn't even approached its just jail. Now why would the DA want to mislead
the publics trust in such a deliberate way sounds like politics to me.

I'd like to know what harm to society he thinks marijuana would cause if he
didn't get these dangerous potheads off the street? Are our streets really
any safer now that ol' uncle Joe is in the big house? This is as archaic as
the Reefer madness film .

The D A wants to link marijuana to the reasons people steal and commit
violent crimes,more fabricating. People who are violent do violent acts.
People who have larceny in their hearts steal.They may drink coffee and
smoke cigarettes too but we shouldn't shift the blame to the scapegoat.

Also I would like to comment on the D A accusing all those involved in
fighting for just laws and personal freedoms..of being users and
dealers.Now if Mr. Richards were inclined to be a contemplating man he
would realize that the dealers have the most to lose, if marijuana were
legal they wouldn't have a black market would they? Prohibition has never
worked and still isn't working.

Kelli Hogan, Potsdam , New York