GOING TO POT

Legal or Not, State Needs Coherent Marijuana Policy

Depending on your point of view, it was either a political statement
or a publicity stunt. Either way, the Mendocino County Board of
Supervisors' call for the legalization of marijuana can be politely
described as wishful thinking. A Congress that can't generate a
humane policy governing medical marijuana is not going to legalize the stuff.

The government of Mendocino County is eager to tax the largest cash
crop in the county, which is understandable. But supervisors would be
well-advised not to begin making plans for how they would spend the
bonanza. It turns out some -- make that, most -- places in America
don't have the same laissez-faire attitude when it comes to growing
and smoking marijuana.

When it comes to legalization, all the usual arguments emerge. Why
not tax a product that is widely used anyway and take the marketing
out of the hands of the bad guys? Why should marijuana be illegal
when other potentially harmful products -- read alcohol and tobacco
- -- are widely available?

Good questions. It remains, however, that marijuana (except for
people seeking relief from serious illness) is not a healthful
product. Some can use the drug and live normal lives, and some cannot.

This country needs a more rational, common-sense approach to
marijuana and the punishments associated with it, but access to the
drug needs to be controlled in more ways than marijuana's most
fervent advocates would like. a