LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Susie Dugan (Sept. 24 Pulse) believes marijuana should remain illegal so
kids won't use it. This has been the government strategy for decades, and
what do we have to show for it? Millions of arrests for non-violent
marijuana offenses. Billions of our tax dollars spent for law enforcement
and incarceration. Gaping holes blown in the Constitution to accommodate
the drug war.

Worst of all, we have terminally ill people being denied medical marijuana
by a federal government that disregards states' rights.

One thing we don't have to show for it is a reduction in marijuana use by
adolescents, as Dugan pointed out.

If we are serious about reducing marijuana use by children, we should
legalize and regulate it the same way we regulate alcohol. The Dutch did
this more than 20 years ago, and their rate of adolescent marijuana use is
about half of ours. In addition, we should shift our focus from law
enforcement and incarceration to education and treatment. By education, I
mean telling our kids the truth about dangers and effects of drugs, not
stale propaganda and lies.

My daughter is 14. I do not want her using alcohol, tobacco or marijuana.
The drug she has the easiest access to at her age is marijuana, precisely
because it is illegal.

I am not "pro-marijuana." I am pro-common sense.

Eric J. Andersen

Omaha