BENEFITS OUTWEIGH COSTS

Thank you for an excellent and thoroughly put case for legalizing
marijuana ["Legalize marijuana," Opinion, Feb. 20].

The cost to society of making something illegal that packs the same
punch as a beer or a caffeinated coffee has been astounding. Just as
when alcohol was illegal, prohibiting the legal sale of marijuana has
brought large amounts of violence and gang warfare, for starters.

Sure it is a substance that has its downside, just as greasy French
fries do, for that matter. As a society we need to weigh the
trade-offs of having a substance be legal. In the case of marijuana,
any costs are greatly outweighed by the benefits.

- - Chris Waldorf, Seattle