DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA

To the editor:

We applaud the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
(NORML) for its efforts to publicize, through San Francisco
billboards, the fact that there are many responsible citizens who use
marijuana in a discreet and moderate fashion for socializing, relaxing
and legitimate medical purposes.

Conversely, we decry those who demonize marijuana use despite its
relative innocuousness when compared to legal drugs such as alcohol,
tobacco, and Valium. It is long past time for the millions of average,
law-abiding people who use marijuana to stand up and declare, "We are
we not criminals."

We also deplore the tremendous waste of human and financial resources
that are being diverted from important causes to indoctrination,
interdiction and incarceration of pot users who have committed no
other "crime."

Our leaders, the general public and every one of us must take action
to end this travesty.

We invite like-minded individuals to work towards the prompt
decriminalization of marijuana.

Isn't it ironic that despite our strong convictions on this issue, the
current atmosphere of intolerance, hypocrisy, and McCarthyism forces
us to sign this letter anonymously?

Teacher-- San Rafael
Attorney, CPA--San Rafael
Home Builder (non-smoker)--San Rafael
Video Salesperson--San Rafael
Business Manager--Mill Valley
Sales and Designer--Mill Valley
Legal Software Applications Specialist--Novato
Production Specialist-- Petaluma
Teacher--McKinleyville
Attorney--Emeryville
Physical Therapist--Berkeley
Market Guru--Berkeley
Librarian--Berkeley
Consultant--Albany
Substance Abuse Research Administrator--Pinole
Retired California Correctional Worker--Pinole
Nurse--San Francisco
Computer Program Designer--San Francisco
Attorney--Los Angeles
Attorney--San Diego