WHY ENCOURAGE DRUG USE?

Vermont state Senator Dick McCormack of Windsor was quoted in the
Banner regarding the marijuana bill as saying, "The harm that is done
to actual people's lives because they're pot smokers is not done by
pot smoking ... It comes from getting caught."

That is the same reasoning offered to my husband many years ago when
he served our community as a law enforcement officer. Having made an
arrest, the person charged with a crime told my husband that the only
crime was in getting caught.

"Getting caught" is oftentimes a consequence for our
actions.

"Consequences" was an important part of the D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness
Resistance Education) curriculum, which my husband taught to our
county's children for over 11 years. Marijuana is a drug with
consequences.

Persons caught with up to two ounces of marijuana could be given six
months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine, according to current Vermont
law. Such a judicial consequence for marijuana use just might prevent
a person from proceeding further down the road of illegal drug use.

The Banner also reported that Rutland's Senator Hull Maynard noted
that in his county, especially in Rutland City, there is a plague of
drug-related violence and other crime. He is quoted as saying, "We
would be better off not passing anything on this subject right now." I
couldn't agree more.

Rutland is already experiencing the consequences of illegal drug use.
Why should it be encouraged statewide?

LAURA K. ZINK

Bennington