Pubdate: Sat, 27 Mar 2010 Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Page: A - 9 Copyright: 2010 Hearst Communications Inc. Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1 Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n212/a10.html Author: Gene Eplett A CLEAR SOCIAL GOOD Opponents of legalized marijuana are asking what social good would be accomplished by legalization. One clear social good would be to reduce the prisons currently bursting at the seams with people busted for selling marijuana. Another would be to undermine economic support for street gangs terrorizing our cities. It might even displace some of the drunken driving that currently ranks as a dominant killer of our fellow citizens. Yes, it also impairs driving ability, but not to the same degree, and it need not always be smoked, so the health issue isn't that serious, either. Gene Eplett San Francisco - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake