LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

To the editor:

We are now considering the possibility of legalizing the use of
prescribed marijuana. I realize that many who are in, say, another
generation, consider this as horrific. Before we come to a presupposed
conclusion, let's give it some thought. Today over half of the drug
related arrest are for simple possession of marijuana. Keith Stroup,
executive director of the National Organization for the reform of
Marijuana Laws (NORML) says, "In fact, the war on drugs is largely a
war on pot smokers. This effort is a tremendous waste of criminal
justice resources that should be dedicated toward combating serious
and violent crime, including the war on terrorism."

Marijuana is the most used illegal drug in the United States. Nearly
69 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least
once. Approximately 90 percent of those imprisoned for marijuana have
had no history of violent offenses. The cost to corrections in terms
of "hard costs" is estimated at $3.1 billion, where the overall cost
of enforcement (including corrections, police and the courts) is to
the tune of $7 billion annually.

According to The Daily Beast, "In 2001, Portugal legalized all
criminal penalties for personal possession of drugs-including cocaine,
heroin, and meth- and replaced drug sentences with offers of therapy.
In the five years following decriminalization, drug use among
teenagers has dropped, as have HIV infections caused by dirty needles.
More Americans have used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana.
Portugal has the lowest rate of lifetime marijuana use in people over
age 15, at 10 percent; 39.8 percent of Americans over the age of 12
have used marijuana.

By the way, if you like beer, remember hops are from a vine that is
related to marijuana.

It seems that with all these things being carefully considered,
legalization of marijuana would be the correct choice for Florida.

Mary West

Cape Coral