HOW LEGALIZING POT FITS THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM

Re: "Pot-legalization measure may boost California Dems," Oct. 3 news story.

Democrats should worry about the Republican Party staking a claim in
the cannabis (marijuana) issue. It's interesting that Republicans have
resisted jumping on the cannabis bandwagon since the issue covers so
many so-called Republican issues: states' rights, smaller federal
government, free trade, capitalism, constitutional rights and
re-legalizing cannabis. For Democrats to snooze any longer could cost
them dearly if the Republicans wake up and smell the grass. Forget the
soft-on-crime implications of the past. Allowing cartels and the black
market to regulate cannabis, with its violent nature, is being soft on
crime.

Stan White, Dillon