LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

In New York, we spend about $1 billion on marijuana enforcement, not
including long-term jailing. With a $13 billion budget gap, why not
save ourselves the money and shift to a legalization, regulation and
taxation policies similar to that of alcohol? There are also the
documented health benefits afforded to suffering AIDS and cancer
patients forced to go into a dangerous underground market to get what
many feel is their medicine. Luckily, New York is at least taking the
medicinal uses seriously, as shown by bills in the Assembly (A0576)
and Senate (S. 4041-A).

Contact your state legislators. Tell them we cannot afford current
marijuana laws, and urge them to support their respective bills. As a
person acquainted with two people suffering from cancer, I believe
it's a shame they cannot legally obtain a drug that has been shown to
improve the quality of life while they go through their treatments.

Shaun Bowen

Owego