RETHINK IMPRISONMENT

Now that Gov. Mike Leavitt has decided not to release 400 nonviolent
prisoners from the Utah State Prison system, maybe it's time to think about
the laws that brought people there in the first place.

With the vigor the Iron County prosecutor has shown in pursuing the case
against myself and two other California medical marijuana patients
allegedly smoking marijuana in our Motel 6 room, you would never know there
was a budget deficit.

After an expensive trial, if convicted, we could spend five years in the
Utah State Prison at taxpayer expense.

I think it's time to change the law to allow patients using marijuana with
their doctor's approval. Spare Utah the expense of incarcerating sick
people as nine states have already done. Forget releasing the nonviolent;
don't put them there in the first place.

DENNIS PERON

San Francisco, Calif.