FOCUS ON CRIME, NOT POT

THE TRIBUNE'S Oct. 20 opinion criticized Measure Z, the Oakland Cannabis
Initiative, for being a social experiment ["Not the time, place for Measure
Z"].

No more experimentation is needed -- the Drug War doesn't work, so we
should stop doing it.

Arresting adults for using marijuana does not stop them from using it -- it
creates high profit for criminals, more crime and a severe burden on our
budget and our police force.

Oakland shouldn't wait for the rest of the country to figure it out, we
should do what is fiscally responsible and ultimately right, and not spend
one more dollar to arrest adults for private, non-violent marijuana offenses.

This would also free up Oakland police to work on the violent crime in
Oakland, which is something we need them to do.

Don Konecny

Oakland