POT: GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD

While Nevada and many other states are trying to figure out how to
close their massive budget shortfalls, the Dutch in the Netherlands
are trying to figure out what to do with their closed prisons. While
the Netherlands has a total population of about 16.5 million, it has
only about 12,000 prisoners. On the other hand, the United States has
more than 2,300,000 total prisoners.

If my math is correct, we in the U. S. have 18.2 times the Dutch
general population and 191.6 times their prison population. Why the
glaring disparity? I suggest it's our drug policies.

In the Netherlands, adult citizens can use, buy and possess small
amounts of marijuana without criminal sanctions. In the United
States, adult citizens are subject to arrest, and jail or prison for
buying, selling or possessing various amounts of marijuana.

Kirk Muse

MESA, ARIZ.