LEGALIZATION OF POT IS A MATTER OF PRIVACY TO THIS MODERATE VOTER

Editor, The Times:

I was pleased to see the state Democratic Party adopted a platform
supporting legalizing marijuana, and sincerely hope elected Democrats start
introducing legislation to further this goal. I was disappointed by your
editorial ("Democrats' pot plan," June 16) criticizing this common-sense
move.

You suggest that this position will "alienate moderate, sensible suburban
voters." I am a moderate, sensible suburban voter, and am willing to vote
for and contribute money to any candidate from any party who will take a
position against this modern-era prohibition. You accuse the Democrats of
pandering to a "fringe element" of the party, but I don't even know anyone
who supports the laws prohibiting private marijuana use.

You also complain that this position makes it harder for parents, who are
trying to "keep kids away from drugs of all kinds." This is ridiculous.
Society really doesn't have to lock up my fellow citizens to help me raise
my children. I would hope that I could tell my children about marijuana and
still live in a free society.

I can't imagine voters will be alienated by a position which declares that
government has no role regulating innocent, private activities of our
citizens.

Ken Friedman, Edmonds

TELL TRUTH, LET PEOPLE CHOOSE

What confuses young people is not the proposed decriminalization of
marijuana, but the arbitrary way we classify substances as legal or illegal,
hazardous or safe. We label marijuana "dangerous" while far more toxic drugs
are perfectly lawful. Just a drop of nicotine in an adult's bloodstream can
kill, and smoking poses well-known health risks. Alcohol destroys countless
lives. Many narcotics and sedatives available through the pharmacy are more
addictive than street drugs.

A sensible policy is one that tells the truth about a substance's health
risks, allows people to make informed choices - and reserves prisons for
those who commit actual crimes, not those who occasionally choose to take in
their recreational substances through a joint instead of a martini glass.

Diana LaRose, Issaquah