Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jul 2008 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 2008 San Jose Mercury News Contact: http://www.mercurynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n702/a04.html Author: Joyce Lucas-Clark LEGALIZED POT HAS MANY ADVANTAGES Mikki Norris was exactly right about legalization, taxation and regulation of marijuana (Letters, July 19), but her letter didn't mention a few other advantages to the program. One is that the taxes would help balance the state budget. Two is that we could empty the prisons of all marijuana offenders, thus easing that crisis. Three is that the police would have an easier load, which would allow more time to deal with real crime. Four is that some of the tax money could be spent on drug rehabilitation, thus easing that problem for all drugs, even those more harmful than marijuana. Joyce Lucas-Clark Fremont - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake