POT PLANT STORY WAS HORRIFYING

Editor: I read in horror and disgust the Jan. 7 article in the Capital
Times headlined, "Pot plants found in burning apartment."

It seems two students, ages 20 and 21, may have their lives ruined by the
fact they were growing several marijuana plants in an apartment that caught
on fire. According to the article, when the firefighters were called to the
scene they discovered the illegal crop and called police.

The article further states that the police will recommend a sentence
enhancer because the pair live by three parks. Each student faces a charge
of "manufacturing marijuana," which carries a possible prison sentence of 7
years and $50,000.

Why are we so intent on penalizing people for using such a relatively
harmless drug when we are inundated with advertisements from an alcohol
industry that destroys so many more lives than marijuana ever could.