POT SHOULD BE LEGALIZED

I'm outraged that a Penn State professor was arrested for allegedly
smoking marijuana -- outraged at our legal system only, because the
professor did nothing wrong.

One can break the law, yet do nothing wrong. Ask Henry David
Thoreau.

Marijuana should be legal, as President Nixon's Shafer Commission
recommended 35 years ago, a recommendation he ignored because he put
ideology above truth.

Marijuana use is not for everyone and can be dangerous for some, but
the same applies more severely to alcohol. And, as with alcohol,
society will best combat abuse problems through regulation, which is
only possible after legalization.

Deaths from tainted bathtub booze plummeted after Prohibition's repeal
moved commerce from Al Capone's hands to those of accountable merchants.

How successful would Alcoholics Anonymous be if its members feared
arrest?

Alcohol ruined a relative's life, but I'd never insist it be outlawed
or that responsible drinkers be jailed and their careers ruined.

Legal use must occur within responsible limits, such as age limits and
during free time. The professor's only fault was allegedly smoking in
his office. But it was a Sunday, so at least he upheld the
responsibility of imbibing outside work hours. If he didn't, I'd
condemn him for abusing drugs. I'd say the same if he took shots
between classes.

How many productive members of society must our government destroy and
demonize simply to save face and avoid admitting that its drug war is
a wasteful failure and a decades-old deceit foisted on the public?

Tom Bowler

State College