IT'S INSANE TO KEEP LOCKING PEOPLE UP FOR USING MARIJUANA

The Sun reports that a woman has been serving a two-year sentence for
growing marijuana plants in her window, but the Maryland Court of
Appeals has ruled the police's seizure of her plants without a warrant
illegal ("Police entry rules not justified," Dec. 15).

When are we going to stop the insanity of locking up people for
possessing marijuana? Why not lock them up for possessing broccoli
instead? Why should it make any difference whether a plant makes you
feel good or gives you gas?

Imprisoning people for possessing marijuana makes less sense than
hanging people for being witches. At least some people in the 17th
century really believed witches existed and that hanging them would
protect society.

But today, millions have smoked marijuana, including many politicians
who pass laws against it and prosecutors and judges who enforce those
laws.

These people know from experience that marijuana is relatively
harmless. They also know that drug prohibition today causes the same
problems that led to repeal of alcohol prohibition.

Many of these politicians, prosecutors, and judges have an occasional
drink and then ruin other people's lives for preferring a different
(and less harmful) intoxicant. How can they live with themselves?

Henry Cohen
Baltimore