WAR ON DRUGS

Overzealous System Ruins Many Lives

Congratulations! This was a very unbiased, intelligent and mature analysis
of the problem with the "war on drugs." I am referring to the Sunday, Feb.
3 published opinion (with a tabloid style title of ) "Is pot truly
'addictive'?" by Clay Evans.

It is time to leave the paranoia behind and deal with the many underlying
subjects in a truly constructive and intelligent manner. There are too many
of our fellow men and women whose lives have been ruined by an alarming
incarceration rate by an overly zealous conservative legal system. It does
not seem logical to lock up a citizen for a non-violent, soft crime such a
smoking marijuana in the privacy of his bedroom - and at up to five times
longer than a violent repeat offending criminal who committed a rape or
shooting!

The bottom line is that the punishments are not in true proportion to the
offense taken by the average citizen for each respective crime. The legal
system is out of control, and needs some correction by the voters. Boulder
should lead the way.

R. T. BEAUFAIT, Louisville