TIME TO RETHINK DRUG POLICIES

Thank you for your recent editorial "Drug laws may need reforming."
Drug policy reform, while a very controversial and complicated
subject, is a critical one that merits discussion and input from the
entire community. You have my sincerest thanks for opening the
dialogue on your pages.

Let's talk about marijuana prohibition. Your position that prison time
for personal possession should perhaps be eased but not prison time
for trafficking (selling a quarter bag to your buddy) or manufacturing
(gardening/growing your own) is misguided, and does not address the
issue of demand.

As long as there are people who choose to consume pot there will
always be people willing to supply it. Locking up the suppliers will
only produce more suppliers while increasing the black market profit
margin. It will not reduce demand, keep it out of the hands of
children, ease our overburdened prison system or make us any safer.
Prohibition has done the exact opposite for the last 30 years.

I would also like to address the notion that responsible adult
consumption of marijuana merits any type of punitive response. Why
should anyone be punished for what they consume? If it is consumed
willingly and without harm to others, then why make it a criminal
offense? People should only be penalized when they commit acts that
harm others.

It's high time we regulate it, tax it and make it legal for adult use.
Use the money to fund treatment for hard drug addicts, and for a real
scientific-based drug prevention education program for our kids.

Loretta Nall

Alabama Marijuana Party

Alexander City