WHAT WAS AND WASN'T SAID ABOUT MARIJUANA

In reply to the letter, "Marijuana appeal was nonsense" (May 26), the
letter writer needs reading glasses. Loretta Nall never said there
would not be underage kids without access to marijuana.

She said "Prohibition allows children to acquire drugs in a dangerous,
unsafe and unregulated market. If it were legal and regulated, then
kids would have to present an ID to get it." Kids are kids, and some
will try to break the laws even when marijuana is legal and regulated,
just as they do now with alcohol and tobacco.

Loretta also said, "If it were legal and regulated, then chances are
the kids wouldn't have access to it in the first place. The
responsibility to keep it away from kids would rest with the parents."
That's just as it does on alcohol now. If parents buy alcohol for a
minor, they can be nailed with fines and even jail time.

Loretta never said legalization will eliminate crime and violence.
What she did say was, "If it were legal and regulated, then there
would be little crime associated with it."

In the 13 states that have legalized marijuana for medical purposes,
there is no proof of a rise in drug use.

The letter writer needs to put on some reading glasses. May I suggest
those without the blinders?

RICHARD JAMES RAWLINGS

Peoria, Ill.