FINES IN LINE WITH INCOME

Editor, The Record:

In response to a recent government proposal to fine youthful cannabis law
offenders less than adult cannabis law offenders, Carol Aun remarked, "If
you're old enough to smoke, you're old enough to deal with the
consequences." (June 5).

I believe Carol Aun failed to take income into consideration. A hundred
dollars is a larger proportion of the average adolescent's income than $150
is of the average adult's income. Fixed fines will have a much more
detrimental impact on low-income cannabis consumers than middle- and
upper-class consumers.

Matthew M. Elrod