Pubdate: Thu, 12 May 1999
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Copyright: 1999, The Des Moines Register.
Contact:  http://www.dmregister.com/
Author: Carl E. Olsen

REPEAL MARIJUANA LAWS

In his letter of May 1, Altoona Police Chief John L. Gray gloats over
the new paternal powers to jail marijuana users bestowed upon him by
the 1999 session of the Iowa Legislature.

Gray boasts of the efforts of the police to take the place of parents
through the DARE program.  Never mind that U.S. Justice Department
studies have found DARE to be ineffective, and that an Urbandale DARE
officer used illegal drugs and a Norwalk drug-education officer has
been charged with possessing illegal drugs.  One thing Gray needs to
understand. Many adults, like myself, have used a lot of marijuana,
and we know it is not as dangerous as Gray makes it out to be.  The
most dangerous thing about marijuana is being arrested.

The police-state mentality that says the law is always right never
ceases to amaze me.  History is full of examples of extremely bad laws
that had to be repealed, and mariuana laws are one of the best examples.

Carl E. Olsen,
1116 E. Seneca Ave., Des Moines
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