THE MARIJUANA STATE?

Regarding "Kentucky Swaps Moonshine for Marijuana" (American Topics, May 17):

Is it any surprise that poverty-stricken Kentuckians are growing pot?
Marijuana laws create financial incentives that make an easily grown weed
literally worth its weight in gold. Marijuana prohibition is no more
effective than alcohol prohibition was at preventing use. And, Re
Prohibition in the early 1900s, the societal harm caused by the unintended
consequences is tremendous.

The manner in which drug laws finance organized crime receives a great deal
of press coverage, yet it is the threat these laws pose to children that
necessitates marijuana legalization, While a liquor store will refuse to
sell alcohol to a minor to avoid losing its license, a drug dealer will
sell to anyone with cash.

Keep in mind that marijuana is the most popular illicit drug and, because
of its black market status, provides the contacts that introduce youth to
harder drugs. Current drug policy is effectively a gateway drug policy.

Adults are not spared either. Imagine how many lives Would be ruined if
every alcohol drinker were thrown in jail and given a permanent criminal
record.

I fail to see why marijuana smokers should be singled out for draconian
punishment.

After all, the plant does not cause hangovers or overdose deaths. It is
arguably a safer drug than alcohol. As far as I can tell the only reason
for not legalizing, taxing and regulating the sale of marijuana to adults
is that doing so would derail the drug war gravy train.

Robert Sharpe, Washington