DON'T SUPPORT LEGALIZING POT

In writing his letter Jan. 7, Dan Scupin, like many people, assumes that
everyone will have control over their consumption of marijuana. He also
thinks part of the problem is that the police enforce Florida Statute 893.13.

I have some questions for Scupin. Has he ever seen someone's daughter
walking and living on the streets of a drug-infested area so she can sell
her body and soul to strangers to support her drug habit?

You ask her how she came to that point, and she tells you that it started
with alcohol and/or marijuana use. She also will tell you of the horrible
treatment she has endured.

Many police officers have heard these "life truths." The police encounter
them daily when dealing with our nation's drug problem. I guess the police
have to deal with these problems so Scupin and others can bash the officers
for doing their job.

The critics don't see the results of poor judgment and addiction. They
don't see the children getting raped and thrown from moving vehicles,
getting both arms broken and almost dying.

The police-bashers don't see the desperation of the addict stealing a
parent's life savings to support a drug habit. They don't see an addict
leaving an infant child at home alone in filth so the addict can go use
drugs. They don't see any of these realities that began with alcohol or
marijuana use.

As long as there are addicts like the ones above, the bashers never will
have my support for the legalization of marijuana, and I hope they don't
get yours. I don't see how Scupin and the many others can support such an
immoral effort.

Sean J. Riordan, Melbourne