POT PROPOSITION SHOULD LOSE

I wholeheartedly agree with The Arizona Republic's recommendation against
Proposition 203, the fight to legalize marijuana. It is not the role of the
state government to hand out drugs to those in need. The distribution of
drugs based solely off a doctor's recommendation leaves room for extreme
abuse of the system.

If this proposition passes, Arizona taxpayers may have to pick up the tab
from the increased cost of labor and resources. The Department of Public
Safety will obviously have to hire more employees to supply the demand of
people in need of the marijuana.

People caught using illegal drugs should have to serve a minimum sentence.
Arizona would be condoning the use of illegal substances if we let off
these "casual users."

People in possession of drugs should face the same penalty as people caught
with weapons; both weapons and drugs have the power to take lives.

Katie Paulson, Phoenix The writer is a student at Thunderbird High School.