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 marijuana is 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