POLICE SHOULDN'T TARGET CANNABIS

I am writing about your article ("Pot clinic raid nets 4 arrests,"
Feb. 6). While I applaud the work of the Costa Mesa police when
they're at work fighting real crime - like murders, rapes, robberies,
aggravated assaults, violent crime and theft - I have a hard time
understanding how arresting peaceful people who are involved with
medical marijuana helps anyone. Anyone except the Arrest and
Prosecution Industry, that is. Police, prosecutors and others who
get paychecks because of marijuana prohibition, like it.

A simple phone call from the city might be the best thing to try
first when there are ostensible concerns over the smell of cannabis.

Cannabis vendors in "bikini tops and nurse hats" is a sure indication
that the war on marijuana users has become a farce. It is time to add
a little common sense to the equation and remove cannabis from the
war on drugs.

Doug Snead

Drug policy analyst

Media Awareness Project