Pubdate: Fri, 16 Aug 2002
Source: Times-News, The (ID)
Copyright: 2002 Magic Valley Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.magicvalley.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/595
Author: Andrew J. Crane

EDUCATOR'S ARREST SHOWS NEED TO DECRIMINALIZE DRUG

The recent felony arrest for a Twin Falls educator for marijuana possession 
makes a strong argument for decriminalizing marijuana in the United States.

What has the state accomplished by destroying the career of a productive 
member of the community? How was anyone harmed by this person's behavior? 
When will we acknowledge the hypocrisy of tolerating alcohol, with its 
immense social, economic and legal cost, and penalizing marijuana, which is 
almost benign by comparison?

The fact is that far more harm is done by the marijuana laws than by the 
drug itself: In the last 10 years, 5 million Americans have been arrested 
for marijuana violations and 60,000 are currently incarcerated. The annual 
cost to society of enforcing our marijuana laws is estimated to be $10 
billion, and the diversion of law enforcement resources to prosecute a 
victimless crime is utterly wasteful.

Studies reveal that 80 million Americans have tried marijuana; it is 
unconscionable to continue to punish people for a crime that 35 percent of 
adults in our country have committed. It's been 30 years since a commission 
appointed by President Nixon recommended that the personal use of marijuana 
be removed from the criminal justice system; it is high time that our 
lawmakers joined the legislatures of 12 other states in abolishing our 
unjust and unnecessary marijuana laws.

ANDREW J. CRANE; Twin Falls
- ---
MAP posted-by: Tom