VOTERS SHOULD USE THEIR POWER TO END HYPOCRISY OF DRUG WAR

Regarding Friday's article "Pot-friendly politics," I find it interesting
that some representatives don't believe the legalization of cannabis is an
important issue.

Are overcrowded prisons, budget deficits, and lack of funding for education
and other critical programs important? They can all be linked to the
wasteful policy of criminalizing otherwise law-abiding cannabis consumers.
The war on drugs isn't about justice or protecting our children. We've
spent 30 years under that pretense, and what have been the results?

Past presidents, along with many other politicians, have used cannabis. So
what message are we really sending our children? That it's OK for our
politicians to use cannabis, but the rest of Americans should be demonized
and criminalized for using it?

Our "leaders" need to find the courage to end this insanity before another
generation is forced to endure the hypocritical prosecution of American
citizens. If those leaders can't, they need to be replaced by those who
have the conviction to do real justice and end this domestic policy disaster.

Scott Russ,

Baton Rouge, La.