SAVE FREEDOM; LEGALIZE POT

There's no need to focus on possible industrial usage as a reason to
legalize marijuana. As Bob Kelly (Letters, Oct. 9) pointed out, with
our short growing season, it might not be very profitable. The fact is
that marijuana should be legalized to preserve our personal freedom,
and to reduce the harm caused by a black market.

Let's say your teen starts smoking weed. The way the laws are now, the
only way to get it would be through a dealer, who might also deal in
harder drugs. The quality of black market weed can vary; for instance,
it could be laced. Besides that, your child would be exposed to the
danger associated with criminal activity. On the other hand, if a kid
wants to buy alcohol, they try to find an older person to get it from
a licensed shop that sells a federally regulated product. Sales to
minors are far easier to track. There is no real danger involved other
than getting caught. Of course no one wants their child drinking or
smoking, but the fact is that most will at least experiment.
Regulating marijuana would be far more effective in keeping our kids
safe.

Legalizing weed, an herb that is safer than caffeine, would separate
it from harder drugs. It would legally allow medical patients to use
the medicine Alaskans already voted to let them have. It would take
marijuana off the streets and out of the hands of criminals. It would
make the statement that Alaskans take their freedom seriously.