INMATES WORTHY OF RELEASE: POT USERS

The judges' ruling (Editorial, Feb 11) enables our governor to issue
an order to release those incarcerated only for marijuana possession
in state and local prisons. That should bring the prison population
down considerably and reduce taxpayer costs considerably. The
original reason marijuana became a controlled drug in 1937 was due to
lobbying from hemp growers and the tobacco companies because during
the Depression, folks were growing it to mix with their tobacco. Of
all crimes worthy of "forgiveness for release," this requires the
simplest review. This would be a simple, effective and practical fix
to the real problem of overcrowded prisons.

George Lawhon

Sunnyvale