PROFIT TO BE MADE ON KEEPING POT ILLEGAL

It should come as no surprise (Editorial, Oct. 20) that some
representatives of law enforcement are against the legalization of
pot. The custody industry is exactly that, and comprises not just
police, but also courts, court reporters, probation workers,
counselors, guards, judges, bail bondsmen, attorneys, paralegals, etc.
Even a small reduction in the flow of arrests and incarceration could
result in losses of thousands of jobs. Custody is a billion-dollar
industry.

The purpose of this letter is not to extol the virtues of another drug
to avoid reality, but simply to point out that the custody industry
has a huge ax to grind on this issue. Pot crimes waste precious and
above all expensive law enforcement priorities. And we are paying that
bill.

Michael M. Rosenblatt

San Jose