Pubdate: Sun, 12 Jan 2014 Source: Dallas Morning News (TX) Copyright: 2014 The Dallas Morning News, Inc. Contact: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/send-a-letter/ Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117 Author: James Carraway Legal Pot FEWER EFFECTS I disagree with those who say that legalizing marijuana would make life more difficult for the poor. I believe legalization would make life less difficult for the poor. The stage for legalization of marijuana will be rife with references to gateway drug and effects upon the poor, but in actuality the poor will be less affected by the prosecution of a petty crime like simple marijuana possession, which the middle class and rich are mostly able to avoid. The truth is the effects are much less than any one beer or wine sold by the gallons in grocery stores. It is difficult to defend the enormous costs of enforcement on a stretched law enforcement department by petty marijuana use. James Carraway, Addison - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom