POT BUST SHOWS FOLLY OF DRUG WAR

On June 12, a 23-year-old man was arrested in Savannah after a "no
knock warrant" on a house he was at with several friends. The 15
narcotic officers busted down the door at around 6 a.m. and held guns
to everyone, who were asleep.

The young man who was pinpointed was arrested. The other individuals
in the house were let go. He was staying over at a friend's house and
woke up to complete hell.

He was in possession of five grams of marijuana, which is a
misdemeanor, but was charged with possession of marijuana with intent
to distribute (felony), possession of tools (scales) for commission of
crime (felony), possession of marijuana, one ounce (misdemeanor) and
probation violation (felony).

I am not saying that I think it is OK for someone to be in possession
of marijuana. But is it more important to go after a person for
marijuana possession over killers, sex offenders and many other
criminals that commit serious crimes?

We are a nation of drug addicts. We drug ourselves, our elderly and
our children on a daily basis. We do it with prescription medications,
over the counter pills, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and we say it's
all fine because those drugs are legal.

But wait a minute, you say. Those drugs are different from marijuana.
They're FDA-approved drugs, prescribed by a doctor. Marijuana cannot
be controlled, therefore it stays illegal.

The war on drugs is a complete joke. The treatment of this young man
is inexcusable and someone has to take a stand.

ERIN WILLOUGHBY

Marietta