ARGUMENTS TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA GO UP IN SMOKE

I must respectfully disagree with the author of "Legalizing marijuana would
cut crime." The writer states many things as fact in the letter which are
untrue, or half true.

First, according to the Dutch Ministry of Justice, which I contacted,
marijuana is not legal in the Netherlands, although it has been essentially
decriminalized. It may be smoked in "coffee shops" only. Marijuana may not
be grown, imported or exported by persons, nor can they possess more than
five grams at any time. Violation of these laws may result in a minimum
four-year prison term.

The average age of marijuana users in the Netherlands is dropping at an
alarming rate, and hard drug use is an epidemic.

Secondly, the writer states that in the United States, police conduct
illegal and unwarranted searches of vehicles and homes. A police officer in
America needs probable cause to stop a person or vehicle and much more than
that to conduct a search. Police officers do not search vehicles unless an
arrest is made, a warrant is issued, permission is given, or contraband is
in plain sight.

Third, comparing marijuana, a mind-altering drug, with alcohol and tobacco
is comparing apples with oranges. Saying pot is OK because it's "better
than" another drug is like saying that dying of lung cancer is better than
dying of cirrhosis of the liver.

The writer refers to the prosecution of drug users and drug dealers as un-
American, and questions our "freedom" under such policies. Well, how free
are we going to be if drugs are legalized? What about babies born to
addicts? What about health care costs, car accidents, train wrecks, plane
crashes, insurance rates and loss of productivity?

Joseph Vecellio Jr.

West Haven

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski