Marijuana

ENACT SENSIBLE AND SANE DRUG POLICIES

Letter writer Capt. Charles Wood of the Waukesha Metro Drug Unit is
apparently aghast at the alleged "pro-pot" positions of columnists
Jim Stingl and Kathleen Parker (Your opinions, Oct. 28). In fact,
he's so disturbed by their positions, he urges readers to "think about it."

Well, that's precisely what I did after I read the columns in
question, and I agree with everything the two columnists suggested.
Parker, for example, cheers the Obama administration for respecting
the 10th Amendment by preventing the Drug Enforcement Administration
from raiding marijuana dispensaries approved by state voters. Stingl
thinks it unfair an effective teacher is fired for using marijuana on
his own time, though it has never affected his job performance.

It's time that sanity, science and logic prevail over the expensive
failure that is the drug war. Can Wood point to one death from a
marijuana overdose? Can he point to one person who will overnight
become a pothead slacker if marijuana is legalized? Does he suggest
that people who use marijuana to dull chronic pain should instead
turn to more addictive substances such as oxycodone? Does he suggest
that the DEA has the right to override state elections?

I'm not suggesting marijuana is good for kids. What I'm suggesting is
that science trump fear-mongering nonsense, which I hope will bring
sane, compassionate drug policies into law.

Christopher Branski

Madison