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.

Cheryl Goodrich