Pubdate: Thu, 31 Dec 2009 Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA) Copyright: 2009 Times-Standard Contact: http://www.times-standard.com/writeus Website: http://www.times-standard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051 Author: Elaine Crandall LEAVE IT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL It would seem at first a good idea that the state and local law enforcement could benefit from revenues of asset forfeitures. Perhaps it was initiated in response to the perceived threat of large drug cartels moving in. But now it really is perceived as predatory behavior by law enforcement and the justice system. Alcohol prohibition was initiated by the effort to protect women and children from becoming destitute, as their fate was directly tied to the husband, who -- if he drank himself ill -- the wife had no recourse, and no laws to protect her. (Women' s rights came later. Prohibition was repealed but not before becoming a great boon to the criminal element.) There is a movement to decriminalize marijuana. As with all mind-altering chemicals, it will be used with respect by some and abused by some. Let's leave those decisions up to the individual. Elaine Crandall Fieldbrook - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake