LEGALIZING MARIJUANA: ADULTS CAN DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES

The federal government has been gambling on marijuana prohibition for the
past three decades -- betting that the next multibillion-dollar drug-war
budget will somehow nullify the basic economic law of supply and demand,
and coming up snake eyes every time ("Measure gambles on marijuana," News,
Aug. 27).

Prohibition doesn't work. It never has and never will. Even if it did work,
what right does the government have to dictate what adult citizens may or
may not put into their own bodies? Absolutely no right.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.
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Issue Distracts Police Officers

As a retired police officer, I know that every hour spent looking for an
ounce under someone's front seat means another drunken driver smashing into
some innocent person.

Public safety is seriously diminished as we in law enforcement spend
millions of hours nationwide chasing a drug that, though not harmless, has
never, to my knowledge, killed anyone using it. Many of us hope the people
of Nevada will vote for increased public safety through the better use of
their police force.

Howard J. Wooldridge

Fort Worth
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Quote Is 'Ridiculous'

Drug Enforcement Administration chief Asa Hutchinson's statement on
marijuana legalization in Nevada is one of the most ridiculous I've ever read.

He says, "People will be coming (to Nevada) from other states to visit
their relatives so they can use marijuana." Sorry, Asa, but I don't think
that is the reason they'll be visiting Nevada.

Any person in the United States can probably find some pot with little
effort and does not have to use visiting relatives in Nevada as an excuse,
or be concerned that 3 ounces or less may be legal in a particular state.

Robert Bedford

Telluride, Colo.
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Consider Future Generations

It was with great sadness that I read the recent article on the effort to
legalize marijuana use in Nevada. Here is but one more example of
irresponsibility toward the next generation.

We have sold our youth the "safe-sex" lie. We plaster our television
screens with advertisements extolling the "fun" associated with drinking.
Now we want to offer them drugs as well. What's next?

Proponents may claim that these are personal freedoms, inconsequential
activities carried out in the privacy of the home. We fail to realize that
what is done in private eventually manifests itself in public:

* Teen pregnancies.

* Drunken-driving deaths.

We need to confront the brutal realities of our decisions. The lack of a
moral compass and backbone among some elected officials is a reflection of
America's voting habits. We put these politicians in office, and we should
demand more of them.

Freedom is great, but basic liberties do not provide a right to do whatever
satisfies our desires.

Rather, freedom is the responsibility to do what is right.

We owe positive change to our sons, daughters and grandchildren.

Wayne C. Sommer

Great Falls, Va.