STRICT DRUG LAWS CREATE ABSURD PENALTY BOXES

It is sad that the legislative response to the arrest of the governor's
daughter seems to be that there need to be stricter laws. If Noelle Bush
were in Mexico, she would be able to legally go into a pharmacy without a
prescription and obtain medication for her panic attack. If she were in
Amsterdam, she would be able to legally go to a coffee house and smoke a
marijuana cigarette to relax.

By her actions, Noelle Bush has pointed out flagrant flaws in our criminal
justice system.

If the drinking age were still 18, college-age students wouldn't be looking
for fake IDs and be at risk of being arrested for having a beer at a bar.
If our prescription laws were as reasonable at those in Mexico,
prescription drugs would be affordable and individuals could self-medicate
under reasonable circumstances such as Noelle's. If marijuana were
legalized, it could be grown, processed, bought, sold and taxed. This would
significantly reduce court dockets.

Perhaps after redistricting, new representation at the state and federal
level will bring a more reasonable focus to change these laws.

Kim O'Connor