BLATANT USE OF MARIJUANA NOT ACCEPTABLE IN ASHEVILLE

My family and I are fairly new to the Asheville area. We love taking our
young children to downtown Asheville on the weekend. Some things my wife
and I have noticed have bothered us.

We love going to Pritchard Park to hear the locals playing the drums and
see people dance. My kids have even participated in the dancing. What is
troublesome is the frequent use of marijuana I see. I thought it was
illegal, thus against the law to smoke pot.

Do my kids have to receive a "contact high" while trying to have fun? What
is even more upsetting is I have noticed police patrolling the area on foot
to try and "keep the peace." One police officer was within a foot of a
couple of people smoking pot and did nothing at all. Either the officer has
a serious case of tunnel vision or the officer just does not care. Well,
I'm sorry, but I cannot expose my 4- and 2-year-old to that type of behavior.

What people want to do in the privacy of their own homes is one thing, but
in a public place is another.

Chris Bertrand, Asheville