US CA: PUB LTE: JUSTICE FROM A JUDGE

Re "Pot activist's prison term is thrown out," March 4:
Judge Peter Nowinski showed remarkable conviction and common sense in
throwing out the prison sentence he had previously imposed on medical
marijuana activist Jeff Jones.

Jones is not a dangerous criminal and does not belong in prison. Nowinski
recognized this fact when he told the courtroom that he had seen a large
number of defendants over the past month and that Jones did not belong in a
jail cell with any of them.

Nowinski's actions show that he is a principled jurist with the courage to
use common sense in dealing with medical marijuana issues.

Nowinski's decision should serve as a lesson to other federal law
enforcement officials to stop wasting taxpayer money on prosecuting medical
marijuana activists and patients and save precious police and prison
resources for combating dangerous and violent criminals.

- - Curtis Kaiser, Sacramento

Policy Analyst, Drug Policy Alliance