DON'T FEAR CHANGE

Your editorial Friday against legal, regulated commerce in cannabis
did not explain why you think consenting adults should be sent to
prison for growing or selling marijuana in the first place. Instead,
you blow smoke screens: federal tyranny, alcohol-related problems,
fear of change.

This is your rationale for 2,500 or so Americans to be arrested each
day, with many put through personal and financial devastation and
locked away for years amid murderers, thugs and rapists. That is the
status quo you promote.

I beg to differ. California writes its own laws, not the feds.
Cannabis is safer than alcohol. Alcohol abuse may well go down when
marijuana is legal for adults, reducing the very problems to which you
referred.

As for facing change: Police focusing on violent and property crimes.
New jobs and revenue throughout the state. Industrial hemp farmed to
clean the environment and revive the economy. Responsible adults being
left alone. Maybe even balanced reporting and analysis instead of drug
war fever. We can handle that.

California needs to make this change, not fear it. Our state is better
for having legalized medical marijuana. We can make it better yet by
ending cannabis prohibition.

Chris Conrad

El Cerrito