Pubdate: Wed, 27 May 1998 
Source: The Herald, Everett (WA) 
Contact:  
Website: http://www.heraldnet.com/ 

DRUGS AND CRIME

Legalize marijuana as start

The reason why crime and drugs go together is because of the prohibition of
drugs creating a multi-billion dollar market.

It's the same reason why sports and alcohol go together -- money!

We learned the hard way about alcohol prohibition -- it does not work. The
only anti-drug project that has ever worked is the education program that
taught Americans the dangers of tobacco use.

Newt Gingrich, Louis Armstrong, Bill Clinton, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Ross
Rebagliati, Paul McCartney and millions of other Americans have all used
marijuana. It is stupid to consider them criminals.

Just listen to what a conservative, Reagan appointed judge has to say about
this: "I am skeptical that a society that is so tolerant of alcohol and
cigarettes should come down so hard on marijuana use and send people to
prison for life without parole... We should not repeal all the drug laws
overnight, but we should begin with marijuana and see whether the sky
falls." -- Richard Posner, chief judge of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

I agree with the judge!

DARRAL GOOD, Lynnwood

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Checked-by: Melodi Cornett