MARIJUANA SMOKERS

I found Pat Dolan's letter (July 17) interesting and it prompted me to
think.

It is time we put to rest the myth that smoking marijuanais a fringe
activity engaged in only by those on the margins of American society. In
reality, marijuana smoking is extremely common, and marijuana is the
recreational drug of choice for tens of millions of mainstream, middle-class
Americans.

According to the most recent data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse,
an estimated 71 million Americans -- more than one-third of the voting
population --have smoked marijuana at some time in their lives. Many
successful business, professional and political leaders admit they have used
marijuana. Therefore, we must begin to reflect that reality in our state and
federal legislation and stop acting as if otherwise law-abiding marijuana
smokers are part of the crime problem. They are not, and it is absurd to
continue to spend law enforcement resources arresting them.

Marijuana smokers in this country are no different from their nonsmoking
peers, except for their marijuana use. Like most Americans, they are
responsible citizens who work hard, raise families, contribute to their
communities and want a safe, crime-free neighborhood in which to live. To
spend federal time and money seeking out, arresting and jailing these
individuals is a misapplication of the criminal sanction which undermines
respect for the law and extends government into areas of our private life
that are inappropriate.

Tom Hawkins Fresno, CA

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"