REEFER SANITY

Kenneth Burns' report on bar time chaos exposed a side of Madison that few
residents ever get to see ("The State Street stumble,") 5/6/05.

It is obvious a great deal of police funding is spent dealing with people
who routinely consume too much alcohol. While no one in their right mind
would want to reinstate alcohol prohibition, marijuana prohibition is
denying people who react badly to alcohol a safer alternative.

Madison has a long history of tolerating marijuana use predating passage of
the landmark Madison General Ordinance 23.20 in April 1977 with over 60% of
the vote. If alcohol, with many negative consequences, is socially
acceptable, shouldn't cannabis also be?

Envision a Madison where adults could escape the bar scene for licensed
Dutch-style coffeeshops where they could obtain cannabis to consume there
or take home. Regulation would not only bring the cannabis market
aboveground, but it would create an alternative to socializing with alcohol
and all that comes with it.

Gary Storck

Madison NORML