Pubdate: Wed, 24 Nov 2004
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2004 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact:  http://www.boston.com/globe/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Bill Downing

DECRIMINALIZATION SAVES MONEY

While towns across Massachusetts suffer from inadequate funding, tens
of millions of dollars are wasted arresting potheads. Twelve thousand
arrests in Massachusetts for marijuana every year only penalizes
otherwise responsible, productive citizens who are harming no one,
arguably not even themselves. Since 1978, 11 states have saved
hundreds of millions of dollars by decriminalizing [the drug].
Marijuana use in these states has not risen significantly in relation
to nondecriminalized states. Our politicians are  cowards.

Bill Downing
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