MARIJUANA LAWS WASTE TAXPAYER MONEY

Windsor county prosecutor Robby Sand has opened the door to finally
have an open, science-based discussion about "drugs" and "drug" policy
in our state. ("Pot possession case referred to diversion," Nov. 6)
The mere reality that marijuana is in the same schedule as heroin
should be enough to question our current policies.

In my opinion, marijuana is in many ways the "cash cow" for many drug
enforcement agencies. And at the same time is a large waste of police
time and energy. I'm sure taxpayers would rather have their police
force solving and preventing violent crimes instead of spending time
testing and arresting someone for a "leafy green substance" as it's
called in news story after news story. It takes up court time, and the
arrested often ends up with only probation.

We're Vermonters, and as a state we're not afraid to go our own way.
We have civil unions, medical marijuana and one of the best gun laws
in the country, all without the sky falling or the state falling into
chaos. It would seem we're tough enough to talk about drug policy.

Mark Tucci

Manchester Center