POT BUSTS WASTE RESOURCES

Re: "Vote yes to decriminalize marijuana in Breckenridge," SDN editorial
Oct. 21

Your Oct. 21 editorial was right on target. In 2008, there were
847,863 marijuana arrests in the U.S., almost 90 percent for simple
possession. At a time when state and local governments are laying off
police, firefighters and teachers, this country continues to spend
public resources criminalizing Americans who prefer marijuana to
martinis. The end result of this ongoing culture war is not
necessarily lower rates of use. The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana
use than the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available to
adults over 18.

Decriminalization is a long overdue step in the right
direction.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC