THE HEIGHT OF IGNORANCE

Re "Governor asks: What if pot's legal and taxed?" (Page A1, May 6):
I am amazed that a state that bans smoking in public places because
of harmful secondhand smoke would consider legalizing marijuana. Not
debating the harmful aspects of smoking dope, legalizing it for tax
dollars seems to me the height of ignorance. If the state wants more
money, why battle the feds to change the law?

There is a legal source of income that is always ignored because of
liberal activists: Open offshore drilling for oil. It would take some
time for oil to be produced, but millions would be put into state
coffers immediately with the sale of leases. Then production would
produce income from each barrel pumped. Also, it would reduce our
need for foreign oil and reduce our gas prices, as the oil would be
in our state for our use.

Legalization of dope would open a Pandora's box. What's next?
Cocaine, meth. There is a lot of money in the production of meth.
Heck, we could have bikers set up meth factories. Create thousands of
jobs, get tax dollars from sales and the income of employees. We
could become the dope center of the United States. All this for tax
dollars to be spent by politicians instead of budget restraints.

­ Bob White Sr., Elk Grove