THE REGISTER'S READERS SAY

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  History is full of examples of extremely bad laws that had to be repealed, and mariuana laws are one of the best examples.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.

The Des Moines Register
Wednesday, May 12, 1999, Page 10A
letters@news.dmreg.com