Reforming drug laws is a superb idea. What is a drug? Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana fit in that category. However, alcohol is a rendered down and refined product, concentrated from ingredients such as grain and hops. Tobacco and marijuana are natural herbs that can be used in their original form, with only curing or other simple processing needed before use.

It is a waste of dollars to have police chasing down and arresting people who grow a few marijuana plants for their own use. Also, many useful products can be made from different species of the hemp plant, including cloth, paper, and rope. Agricultural production of hemp would save trees

Our government is experiencing its own form of "reefer madness" by refusing to legalize marijuana. Home-grown marijuana made legal would probably wipe out many drug dealers practically overnight. I don't think that marijuana leads to hard drugs, but if it does, it is possibly due to the fact that people have to get their cannabis from illegal drug dealers. I have severe asthma and don't smoke anything at all. I must disclose, however that I once received a serious concussion from a crack addict who tried to steal my purse, so I am prejudiced against prosecuting non-violent herb smokers and favor catching the hard drug addicts who commit crimes.

I have met a wide variety of responsible citizens who smoke both tobacco and marijuana, but who do not abuse these substances and do not use hard drugs. Possible abuse is not a valid argument for keeping marijuana illegal. Herbs are not hard drugs. Free the herbs: Legalize marijuana.

Luhra Warren
Little Rock

LTE Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 8/5/2001