Pubdate: Thu, 01 Nov 2012
Source: Times Record (Fort Smith, AR)
Copyright: 2012 Stephens Media Group
Contact: http://www.swtimes.com/site/forms/?mode=letters
Website: http://www.swtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/529
Author: Ernie Hill

LEGALIZING POT WOULD SAVE MONEY

We've all seen the pros and cons of medicinal marijuana, especially 
the speculation that a "yes" vote would increase use. I haven't seen 
much commentary from the standpoint that our prisons and county jails 
are full of folks whose only crime was possessing a little marijuana 
for medicinal use. I'm not talking about the big-time border-jumping 
dealers who kill and poison for profit. How much of our state tax 
money goes to housing prisoners who are incarcerated for having a 
little marijuana? On a federal level, how much tax money is spent 
chasing, arresting, prosecuting, incarcerating and housing marijuana 
users and dealers? How much money would be put back into the federal 
and state coffers if this helpful plant were legalized? People will 
always use marijuana, legal or not. Let's pass this bill and let our 
law enforcement folks go after the dangerous drugs and gangsters who deal them.

Marijuana does not have to be smoked to be useful. It can be rendered 
in many good ways and now, it can be vaporized like nicotine, which, 
by the way, can really kill you. I don't see my fellow Christian 
movers and shakers trying to get nicotine or alcohol banned.

Question the doctors and pharmacists who oppose this bill. Will their 
profits from prescription drugs and kickbacks from big pharmaceutical 
companies suffer? What is the real motive behind the opposition? My 
Christ is compassionate and loving.

Check the facts and vote smart. I'm banned by federal DOT law to ever 
partake, so my interest is not selfish at all.

Ernie Hill

Rudy
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom