DON'T WEAKEN MARIJUANA LAWS

I applaud the Iowa senators who support increased penalties for
marijuana possession.

The Register criticized increased penalties and supported weaker
penalties ("Rethink Jail Terms for Small Amounts of Pot," Feb. 18
editorial). The editorial supported Johnson County Sheriff Lonny
Pulkrabek's proposal that would weaken Iowa's drug laws pertaining to
marijuana possession.

The Register fails to understand that an overwhelming number of
law-enforcement officers in this state do not agree with Pulkrabek's
stance. The sheriff is only one man with one opinion.

How the Register can take the view of one man and portray it in an
editorial as being the collective view of "those charged with
enforcing the laws" is beyond comprehension.

I sincerely hope lawmakers resist the temptation to weaken Iowa's
drug laws. Instead, citizens, law-enforcement officers and lawmakers
must maintain a strong stance on illegal drug use. Doing otherwise
sends the wrong moral message and jeopardizes public health and safety.

- - Dave Zimmer

Altoona.