A Letter to the Editor by blog author Otto:
Now
that Wichitans have voted to lower the criminal penalties for marijuana
possession, it is time to let state politicians know they need to respect the
vote of the people.
Most
people realize marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol. A recent poll
indicated that 63 percent of Kansans approve of the decriminalization of
marijuana while 68 percent approve of medical marijuana (April
24 Eagle).
The
real problem is that locking up users of marijuana has filled our jails, and
that has put a heavy tax burden on our society. It should be clear to everyone
by now that we are locking people up for petty reasons.
The group JENI (Jobs and Education-Not Incarceration) and the Peace
and Social Justice Center worked for months to gather the needed signatures to
put this issue on the ballot in Wichita. They are concerned about mass
incarceration and are looking for ways to reduce it. Keeping marijuana users
out of prisons is a good first step.
Right
now there is a bill in the Legislature, House Bill 2049,
that would reduce the severity level of the crime of marijuana possession. That
would do much of what the new ordinance in Wichita does. Contact your state
officials today and let them know that this is about democracy. The people of
Wichita have spoken, and it is time our elected officials listened.
STEVE
OTTO
Maize
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