STOP ARRESTING AMERICANS

Marijuana prohibition hurts more people than marijuana ever could.

There is no reason to arrest and jail responsible marijuana users.
Marijuana simply is not dangerous, and the belief otherwise is doing
America harm.

Consider that cigarettes cause 400,000 deaths a year while marijuana has no
history of causing any death. The laws are not consistent.

Last year, $7.5 billion was spent on marijuana prohibition and 700,000
people were arrested. Thousands of jail spaces are taken up by these
victimless criminals, while level three sex offenders are out.

These priorities do not reflect a free and responsible society. The
sensible solution would be to issue fines for marijuana possessions. Jail
spaces and innocent citizens would be freed, and police could spend more
time and money on serious crimes like burglary, rape, and vandalism.

All I'm asking is for the punishment to fit the crime and for people to do
their own research and then tell legislators how they feel. It is my hope
that the truth about marijuana rises above all else and America declares,
"No victim, no crime!"

Melanie M.Marshall, Puyallup