NEW MARIJUANA LAW A POSITIVE STEP

Your editorial supporting the partial decriminalization of marijuana
in Cook County was right on the money. We must find better ways to
deal with the possession of small amounts of pot than jail time and a
permanent criminal record.

Why? Our local governments need all the cash they can get to deal with
serious social problems -- underfunded schools, health care for the
poor, and crumbling infrastructure, among other things. We have no
money to waste. Yet today, we're spending dollar upon dollar
arresting, prosecuting, and incarcerating people for nonviolent
behavior that could be corrected through inexpensive treatment. Is
that a wise use of taxpayer money?

Even after marijuana users are released from jail, the public
continues to pay a steep price. Ex-offenders usually have a tough time
finding a job -- and that ultimately makes them more likely to turn to
welfare or theft to make ends meet. Neither the individual nor
society-at-large benefits from this state of affairs.

Now don't get me wrong. As a minister and citizen, I'm not advocating
the use of marijuana. But we need to think differently about drugs in
this country -- moving toward public policies that will foster justice
and compassion, not simply retribution.

Rev. Alexander Sharp,

Executive director, Protestants for the Common Good