ENFORCING MARIJUANA LAWS IS A BIG WASTE OF RESOURCES

Sam Hollis of Savannah showed he does not have a clue ("Marijuana not
innocent as columnist claims," Letters, Aug. 10) when he wrote in response
to Kathleen Parker's Aug. 3 commentary, "Government's war on drugs."

It is obvious that Mr. Hollis is the one who did not do his homework. Ms.
Parker was right on target. Marijuana is not addicting and is one of the
most benign substances known to man. It has no hallucinogenic effect and
driving or operating heavy machinery while on marijuana has minimal effect
on impairment.

Mr. Hollis spouted the fear of change if marijuana were to be legalized.
Believe me, there is no shortage of it now. It is out there if a person
wants it. Laws have no effect on its supply. The war on drugs is a gigantic
waste of money and resources.

The worst thing about marijuana is the law -- that is where marijuana
destroys lives. The law puts people in jail for what, smoking or selling
weed? There are no victims and no property crimes. Jailing people is not
working.

The medical benefits of marijuana are numerous. As for industrial benefits,
there are more than 50,000 industrial uses known for the crop, including
less dependency on foreign oil.

It says a lot about my country when we pay prison guards more than teachers
and build more prisons than schools.

I thank Ms. Parker for telling what needed to be told. It is not easy to
take a stand and go against the grain. It is time more people did the same
so we can end the madness called the war on drugs.

THOMAS HUGHES

Savannah