TIMOTHY L. HAVENER
Lock Haven
I read the story about former Lock Haven University professor, Lawrence B. Lebin, who has been arrested for allegedly growing marijuana. Once again, our tax dollars are being spent to fight a battle that has already been lost both tactically, and in the realm of public opinion.
Over 30 percent of Americans now live under some form of relaxed marijuana laws, and more than 50 percent of Americans believe that marijuana should be legalized, regulated, and taxed like alcohol. As state after state continues to reform their marijuana policy with medical marijuana laws, some states, like Colorado, are even attempting to fully legalize.
All of this comes on the heels of decades of scientific research into the health risks and benefits of cannabis which have revealed that marijuana is far less harmful to individuals and society than legal substances like alcohol.
Despite this trend toward the ending of marijuana prohibition, in 2010, marijuana related arrests reached a staggering rate of 97.5 per hour in the United States; the majority of those arrests being for possession only.
These aren't thugs being arrested. They are not violent and dangerous people.
They are your neighbors, your friends, your sons and your daughtersyour college professors. These are the people that are being taken from us and tossed into prison in the name of fighting a war that has already been lost.
How much longer will you sit by and say nothing? How many more lives will you allow to be ruined by these unjust laws?
When will enough be enough?
