LEGALIZE POT

Re: Timm Herdt's Oct. 7 essay, "Measure that could stir the political pot":

In 2008, there were 847,863 marijuana arrests in the U.S., almost 90
percent for simple possession. At a time when local governments are
laying off police, firefighters and teachers, this country continues
to spend shrinking public resources criminalizing Americans who prefer
marijuana to martinis.

The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, where
marijuana is legally available. An admitted former pot smoker,
President Barack Obama has thus far maintained the status quo rather
than pursue change. Would Obama be in the White House right now if he
had been convicted of a marijuana offense in his youth?

Taxing and regulating marijuana would render the $40 billion drug war
obsolete and protect children from truly dangerous drugs. As long as
marijuana distribution is controlled by organized crime, consumers of
the most popular illicit drug will come into contact with sellers of
hard drugs like cocaine and heroin. This "gateway" is a direct result
of marijuana prohibition.

Robert Sharpe,

Arlington, Va.

(The writer is policy analyst for Common Sense for Drug Policy in
Washington, D.C. -- Editor)