Dear Ann Landers:

I have a quick suggestion for resolving the crisis of overcrowding in our
jails: Stop locking up marijuana consumers.

Seventeen out of every 100 federal prisoners are there for marijuana crimes
-- 17,000 marijuana prisoners in all. At least an additional 20,000
marijuana offenders are in state prisons and local jails. That prison
space should be used for rapists, muggers and other dangerous criminals.

There are more than 400,000 marijuana arrests each year. Think of how we
could better use our limited police resources. I firmly believe we should
allow responsible adults to grow and consume marijuana in the privacy of
their own homes and then watch how quickly prison overcrowding is reduced
and the black market dries up.

Chuck Thomas
Director of Communications
Marijuana Policy Project
Washington DC