COLUMN GOT IT RIGHT ON POT ISSUE

Kudos to The Standard-Times and Jack Spillane for his column, "What is
law enforcement smoking to oppose Question 2?" (Sept. 20).

Reading the comments from the assembled law enforcement officials was
a flashback to the "reefer madness" propaganda of Harry Anslinger. If
there is any violence connected to marijuana, it comes from its
prohibition, not from its use.

In 2000, Amsterdam encouraged pot smoking during its hosting of the
Euro soccer tournament. Portugal encouraged visitors to Lisbon for the
2004 European soccer championships to smoke pot instead of drinking
alcohol, precisely because pot does not produce violent behavior.

U.S. pot laws are based upon bigoted lies and perjured testimony
before the U.S. Senate. Repeating these lies for seven decades is the
sole basis for today's prohibition of marijuana, a prohibition that
now has us arresting nearly 1 million people a year for an activity
that is older than recorded human history.

Allan Erickson

Eugene, Ore