Pubdate: Sat, 09 May 2009 Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT) Copyright: 2009 The Salt Lake Tribune Contact: http://www.sltrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383 Author: Christian England LEGALIZE POT I am encouraged to hear serious legal talk about the legalization of marijuana. For too long we have adhered to the archaic rhetoric originally propagated by Harry Anslinger, who made Americans believe that smoking pot and shooting heroin was the same thing. If marijuana were discovered today, and didn't carry the bad political baggage, it would be called a godsend. It has proven medical benefits, it doesn't lead to social deviancy and it's far better for you than cigarettes. With the economic climate as it is, to continue to spend billions of dollars on futile enforcement and prison upkeep is almost comical. Legalization would also help diffuse the violence in Mexico and take money away from the dealers at home while putting billions of dollars into the economy. In essence, legalizing marijuana would be killing a plague of birds with one stone. No pun intended. Christian England Salt Lake City - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom