DRUG WAR TOO LUCRATIVE FOR GOVERNMENT TO END

I agree with Ted Messerlian's letter Feb. 3 regarding legalizing marijuana.

The state of California would literally turn golden again if this
were to occur, because not only would there be so much savings on the
arrest, prosecution and imprisonment of nonviolent offenders, but the
untold millions that would be generated for our state coffers because
of the regulation and taxation of this No. 1 crop in the state.

However, it would never happen. There is too much of a financial
interest in the funds now being spent on "funding" eradication
efforts in foreign countries, like Columbia and Peru.

You have an entire Drug Enforcement Agency employing hundreds, if not
thousands of people traveling all over the world for this effort.

The equipment they buy and the money they control makes it too
lucrative for the federal government's contractors and vendors, as
well as the foreign governments we deal with, not to continually keep
marijuana labeled as an illegal drug. Think about it. Follow the money.

Bret Grove

Fresno