Pubdate: Tue, 04 Mar 2003
Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO)
Copyright: 2003 Columbia Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.showmenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/91
Author: Christopher Pieper

PROP 1 FIGHTS DRUG USE IN A SANE, MEASURED WAY

Editor, the Tribune:

I would like to thank Forrest Rose for his Feb. 4 column "Pot proposal is a 
step toward sanity." Rose takes a common-sense approach to the issue 
instead of the moral absolutist, intellectually vacuous approach taken by 
Proposition 1's opponents.

Making marijuana possession an ordinance violation rather than a crime is 
not going to encourage Johnny Drug Dealer to run willy-nilly about the 
streets of Columbia, littering the sidewalk with joints and encouraging 
children to be insubordinate to their parents. What Prop 1 will do is make 
sure Jane Student won't be stigmatized for life and be unable to get the 
student loan she needs to become a productive, responsible member of 
society. Sure, Jane exercised poor judgment in using marijuana, and luckily 
the fine she will have to pay even if Prop 1 passes will encourage her to 
exercise better judgment.

"But what about Johnny Drug Dealer?" ask those who don't think people 
should be able to decide their own policies as our Constitution 
contemplates. "Won't he be able to get off with a fine, too?"

The answer is no.

Those who possess and distribute large quantities of marijuana will still 
receive the same penalties as before. Our drug laws' goals will still be 
achieved. And since our overworked, underfunded police won't be spending as 
much time arresting, booking and interrogating Jane Student, they can 
devote more time to catching Johnny Drug Dealers of the world and making 
Columbia safer for all of us.

Christopher Pieper
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom