Time to legalize marijuana

Open letter to Shap Smith, speaker of the House:

Concerning the decriminalization of marijuana, the issue is not political, as you the House speaker seem to think, it’s educational. Marijuana legalization is like the case against prohibition: Once alcohol was made legal the underground, gangster, illegal sales ended. Marijuana too will be sold legally and end illegal pot dealing. Mr. Smith, as a lawyer you seem worried about liability, no doubt. Well, sir, that is the case with any new legislation. If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen. Move aside and let someone else take the issue and get it passed. Enough people use pot now, so making it legal is really a moot point. Whether you hate the idea of someone smoking pot doesn’t matter. Creating a situation where fewer people are jailed and have a criminal record does matter.

Tom King

Shaftsbury