In response to Dianne Slater’s letter (Globe, Feb. 22), her insinuation that I have brain damage is misplaced.
I have simply read all the available data of any change in use rates of marijuana, availability of marijuana, or adolescents’ perception of drug use in regard to a change in the law. The answer is clear and overwhelming; there is not a connection.
As I said in my last letter, all we have to do is look to the experience of 12 other states that eliminated criminal penalties for simple possession, most of them 30 years ago. In none of those states was there any increase in use attributable to the reform. If that were not so, those states would have repealed their reform laws long ago.
Also, people who want to use marijuana are already using it, and there is no reason to believe that lessening penalties for possession of a small amount of marijuana would make those people more likely to drive under the influence.
We are extremely opposed to any person who drives while intoxicated, and we think they should be strictly punished if they do. By freeing up law enforcement resources now wasted arresting and prosecuting adults who are possessing small amounts of marijuana, this initiative will allow police to pursue real crimes, like keeping intoxicated drivers off the roadways.
Kelly Maddy
Campaign director of Sensible Joplin
Opinion
Voices: Not a connection
- Opinion
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Our View: Are school loans next 'debt bomb'?
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Our View: A better way of limit terms
A Missouri House committee on Tuesday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to serve 16 years in the state Legislature, either the House or the Senate.
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Your View: Is it our fault?
When did coveting things and money take over character? What happened?
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Your View: No way to run a school
All throughout the state of Missouri, you’ll hear much discussion about teacher tenure and the indefinite contracts that go along with that. Most — if not nearly all — jobs in the private and public sectors have no such career protection.
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Your View: Prime suspects
If it’s too cool in the house, you can turn up the heat if you think you can afford it.
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Our View: Worldwide concern
There is growing concern worldwide that Israel might launch an attack on Iranian nuclear plants.
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Other Views: FAA deal up in air five years
The Federal Aviation Administration bill was delayed 23 times, but the agency finally has a law giving it $63 billion and full operating authority for the next four years.
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Don Ray, columnist: Obama's pipeline excuse an election-year cop-out
On Jan. 18, President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project — a project that had its beginnings some 40 months ago (September 2008).
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James Whitford, guest columnist: Broken people or broken system?
Are the people broken or is the system broken? If you walk into Watered Gardens, our rescue mission, it may seem the people are broken. But it’s a rescue mission. It just feels that way. And sometimes, it just looks that way.
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Our View: Meaningless in Missouri
Missourians have an opinion about who should be the Republican candidate to run against Barack Obama in November. Too bad it won’t matter.
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