FUNDS FROM LEGAL POT WOULD HELP STATE

Reading The Bee's story on Prohibition ("We've come a long, long way:
But the lasting marks of Prohibition remain," April 16, Page E-2), I
had to laugh -- especially after reading on Page A-7 how the governor
wants $7 billion for prisons (April 12). This in a state where we
can't afford to keep schools open for our children.

Anybody else flash on the amount of money liquor sales bring to this
state? Now, how about legalizing marijuana? I keep thinking about that
little store in Modesto, and how marijuana-caused accidents and
arrests didn't skyrocket as predicted. Thousands of people smoke
marijuana, legal or not. We need to decide if we want the money for
its sale to go to criminals or to society.

Now we have no control over who smokes marijuana or where the money
goes. If we sold it in pharmacies, we would. The people against
legalizing pot are for the criminals making money and for our children
smoking it. We need to admit it is part of our society and deal with
it, thereby hurting criminals and protecting our children.

Ted Trujillo

Turlock