Pubdate: Fri, 25 Sep 2009 Source: El Paso Times (TX) Copyright: 2009 El Paso Times Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/formnewsroom Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829 Pubdate: 25 Sep 2009 Author: Charles Chapman MARIJUANA LAW Though you may hear this proposal time and time again, it is important that we need to discuss the decriminalization of marijuana in El Paso. Smoking marijuana should not be an offense, and the only reason why it is illegal is because of politics. Some say it's a harmful drug and people should be arrested, or marijuana causes problems. The only problem that is costing us tons of money is prosecuting innocent marijuana users. The police and government should make marijuana offenses their lowest concern. Jail is for rapists, murderers and burglars, not for someone who decides to use marijuana. El Paso needs to wake up and realize that arresting people who use marijuana is doing more harm than good. I hope this knocks some sense into the narrow-minded people who think their beliefs and opinions about marijuana should govern those who think otherwise. Charles Chapman Central El Paso - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom