SAD WAR ON DRUGS

This is in response to your Nov. 15 article titled "Judge to enter rehab
program."

This case demonstrates the sad reality of our war on drugs. At a time when a
vast majority of Americans think that pot use should be decriminalized,
Judge Gilbert is the victim of the 21st century equivalent of a witch hunt.

This also shows how ridiculous the government's rehab statistics are.

When they say that 67 percent of rehab cases are for marijuana, it is
usually not a chronic user, but someone who is forced into rehab in order to
keep their job or avoid being expelled when the actual use has nothing to do
with their job or school performance.

Drug abuse is a serious problem, but the government's penalties are
significantly worse than the drug itself. This is a tragedy - let's focus on
truly dangerous drugs.

Mark Lehrer

Salt Lake City, Utah