ANN LANDERS

DEAR ANN: Your response to ``David in Oregon'' knocked me on my heels.
You said Oregon was one of the nation's most sane and sensible states,
a role model for all the others, and so on. I was totally baffled when
I read your comments.

Apparently, you are not aware of our Measure 11. It says, ``Three
strikes, and you're out.'' That law has put countless young people in
prison. And now, Gov. Kitzhaber is screaming that he wants more
prisons built. What we need is free rehabilitation programs, not
places where people can be locked up for smoking pot.

The truth is that so many jobs have gone overseas that our young
people are up against it. They are depressed, so they turn to drugs
for comfort -- something to ease the pain. They have very little money
to buy drugs, so they turn to crime to support their habit. It's a
vicious circle. Now, do you get it? Oregon needs help. I am signing my
name, and you can print it.

Marjorie Miller in Tillamook, Ore.

DEAR MARJORIE MILLER: You've written quite an unsettling letter. (Sen.
Wayne Morse, where are you now that we need you?) If your Gov.
Kitzhaber would like to write to me and verify that he is indeed
building more prisons to accommodate pot smokers, I will print his
letter.

Write to Ann Landers in care of this newspaper.