Pubdate: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 Source: Herald, The (Everett, WA) Copyright: 2009 The Daily Herald Co. Contact: http://www.heraldnet.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190 Author: Ronald Kleinman WE COULD EASILY FIX CHRONIC 'PROBLEM' About Michael Phelps' Bong Hit: Isn't smoking pot illegal? Should Michael be arrested and incarcerated? I mean, there's absolute proof he broke the law -- a picture is a very good eyewitness to the crime. Just one hit is a crime -- just thinking about it is a sin. Actually, I hear the Richland County sheriff is thinking about charging him as I write. But then, if you think about it, should there even be a crime in smoking or having marijuana? What would be the effect if it were decriminalized and regulated? "Deja-vu all over again" on this subject. Well, here are a few things it may effect: 1. Obviously, the price would go down exponentially -- it would be like the price of gas if the CEOs refused their bonuses and took a cut in pay. I can't even imagine... 2. Many criminals, "MJ Drug Lords" and growers would become unemployed due to legal availability of product and strict regulation requirements (same as booze). They couldn't claim unemployment compensation because the jobs weren't legal in the first place, so the government is off the hook and can continue with the extremely expensive bailouts in progress. 3. Thousands of born-agains and conservatives would go nuts for lack of yet another thing to complain or preach about. I think, all-in-all, that Michael -- and the rest of the world as well - -- should be given a break on this one. Ronald Kleinman Mountlake Terrace - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin