Pubdate: Mon, 10 Feb 1997
Source: Olympian Olympia (WA)
Author: Rachel E. Kurtz

Reading The Olympian recently, I was alarmed by the sentences handed
out to local law offenders.

Though I do not know the specifics about the individual cases, I
noticed a man convicted of growing marijuana received nine months in
prison, while a man convicted of indecent exposure, involving a child
victim, only received six months.

That type of sentencing is occurring nationwide.  It is sad to see that
our country has become so paranoid about marijuana that judges penalize
offenders more than those who commit sexual crimes against children.

The citizens of this country have been brainwashed by the government's
anti-drug propaganda trying to cover the mistakes it has made with its
"war on drugs."  Every citizen has become a victim because our tax
dollars are being used to hold nonviolent marijuana offenders in already
overcrowded prisons.

We need to stop supporting the big business of building more prisons and
examine the real repercussions of the war on drugs.

Rachel E. Kurtz, Olympia