LEGALIZE IT

As an avid fan of Larry Gabriel and Jack Lessenberry's opinion
columns, I was compelled to write about "Home-grown $$$" (March 11).
I have been saying marijuana should be legalized for years and
wholeheartedly agree with you. The fact that medicinal marijuana is
legal and personal possession is illegal solidifies the hypocrisy of
the situation. The debate has been that marijuana is a gateway drug
to harder, more deadly drugs. What? An addictive personality will do
drugs and alcohol of any type, not state that marijuana is their
first step to crack. What is more deadly, eight beers or eight drags
from a marijuana cigarette? As the drug companies have such a tight
grip on this country, I can only imagine that they would fight tooth
and nail to smash any legislation of this type. After all, they want
you to take Xanax, not a couple hits of pot. It's more money in their
greedy hands than for normal folks, who could benefit from a new
industry. Many good people and families have been hurt by the
illegality of pot.

Jane Manzitti, Wyandotte