BEYOND THE LAW

Re "Decriminalizing Dope," Letters, April 13: The letter writer said
they were a heavy and daily pot smoker, were married to a dealer and
are against legalizing cannabis, but in favour of lowering the
penalty. They say they want to break the law but not be punished for it.

If I were a judge, here's what I would do to all persons 30 years of
age or older who came before me on a drug charge: I would ask them to
produce evidence showing that they have tried to change the drug
laws. If they could produce such evidence, I would let them go free.
If they could not, I would send them to jail. Not because drugs are
so bad, but because they are so irresponsible.

Marijuana has been illegal in the US and Canada since the 1920s and
'30s. Since the letter writer was born after that time, perhaps she
could explain how making it illegal kept it out of her hands as well
as from using it irresponsibly.

Randy Vizyak,

Mukwonago, Wisconsin