LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WOULD ONLY HURT THOSE WHO WANT IT ILLEGAL

Dear editor,

You recently published several "taking points" put forward by
opponents of Amendment 44. They say that 62 percent of teens in drug
treatment had a primary marijuana diagnosis, and that more young
people are in drug treatment for marijuana than for all other drugs
combined.

What they don't say is that most of these teens enter treatment
because they have been ordered to do so, not because they need it.

Amendment 44 opponents also claim that "Amendment 44 would make
Colorado the No. 1 drug tourist destination in America" and that
"Amendment 44 would have a negative economic impact on every Colorado
citizen." Which is it?

In the 25 years I lived in Colorado, I don't remember anyone ever
claiming that tourism had anything but a positive economic impact.

The fact is that Amendment 44 will have a negative impact, not on the
citizens of Colorado, but on those who make their living persecuting
adults who prefer to relax with a bit of marijuana rather than
alcohol. It is these self-interested drug warriors who, fearful of a
loss of income and power, oppose Amendment 44 so strongly.

Leroy Casterline

Casper, Wyo.