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MARIJUANA SHOULD NOT BE LEGALIZED

Let me start by saying that I was an investigator who headed up the juvenile narcotic bureau for a major city in northern California.  In 1960, I was assigned to work drug abuse problems that was occurring in our local school district.

In my 20 plus years of working with countless amounts of juveniles and parents whose sons or daughters were involved in drug use, I saw on a daily basis how marijuana affected the juvenile, as well as the effects it had on the family.  In my experience, I see marijuana as a gateway drug.  The user is introduced to other people involved in the drug culture, who want to turn these stoners on to other drugs.

In my view, I see much of America going to "pot" and no one seems to care.  With the rise of moral liberalism, many Americans believe that people should be free to engage in anything.

In a recent Yuma Sun editorial, it was noted that legalizing marijuana would be an economic boom for Arizona.  This was based on what the article believed to be going on in Colorado.  Let's look at the state of Colorado with the so-called legalization of marijuana.

We find that there's more marijuana being sold illegally than through the state marijuana stores.

What's the reason? The illegal people do not have to pay taxes.

Colorado is being invaded by a large amount of young people who have no income to support themselves but are attracted to Denver because of the laws pertaining to marijuana.

Homeless shelters are filled and we also see the escalating amount of people being arrested for driving under the influence.  Whatever amount of money that would be going to help the schools and create many new jobs in Arizona, it would be negated by the amount of money that would be going into mental health and social agencies.  Arizonans, don't be fooled, just look around and see what problems that we're facing with marijuana in our state at this time.  When the time comes, stand up and vote no because we cannot afford to legalize marijuana in Arizona.

J.  BLACKBURN Foothills