I have never used illegal drugs of any kind. This probably puts me in a minority, at least in today's society, if not in my generation.

Now, I would never, ever, promote the legalization of illegal drugs in general. Obviously, some of the drugs people use are very powerful, and create powerful emotions, and sometimes violent results.

When presidential candidate Dole generated a new issue regarding the expansion of drug use, I was disheartened. The country, with its myriad other concerns and problems, does not need expanded drug use at this time. I later learned (and I'm no student of the subject, of course) that marijuana use was not up, and crack cocaine use was. This dividing line on the issue, which was not illuminated by Mr. Dole, prompts this note, hopefully initiating responsible responses which either enlighten me on the subject or promotes what I suggest.

I've always felt (as an outsider from the culture) that people could do what they want to their bodies, and if caught up in the legal ramifications of what they were doing under current law, were equally responsible for the legal outcome. I've also always felt that marijuana use, when compared to the use of other (what I feel are) more dangerous drugs, creates what is almost job security for law enforcement. As a reasonable man, I see a distinct difference between marijuana and the other drugs. Sure, let them fry their brains, even via marijuana, if marijuana in fact frys brains as the other drugs do. But to house nearly a generation of people at taxpayer expense for possession of one or more ounces of marijuana - that sure seemed like overkill to me.

Well, now I've come full circle over the years. Not only do I feel that marijuana is in a class all its own, I also feel that there are various affects on our society today which we did not have to suffer, namely:

1. It costs the same to house someone holding an ounce of marijuana as it does to house someone holding eight tons of crack cocaine, or someone who has murdered ten people.

2. It costs the same to process them. It costs the police force in productivity to deal with a marijuana user.

3. It costs us millions of dollars a year, perhaps billions.

4. It ruins very lives, never to be reclaimed to society.

Keep in mind that over the years, I've never considered the legalization of marijuana, must less promoted it. It is time to try to balance the scales of justice, however. How much longer can America afford to work more minor issues, when major calamities and other illegal activities require the police force's attention. How much longer can America afford to house people who, in effect, could be dealt with on a misdemeanor basis.

So, in the name of reasonableness, I must say that I now promote the legalization of marijuana, but not more dangerous drugs. In fact, those in prison serving only a marijuana charge (which in some cases incarcertates the individual for decades) be considered for parole.

Legalize marijuana (or for the faint of heart - make it a misdemeanor). Make it available in pack form. Sell it over the counter. Reduce the waste that our police force (necessarily enlarged) generates for a marijuana charge. Lower the backlog in our courts. Lessen the costs of housing misdemeanor type offenders. Eliminate questions of its medical use.

I'm not some hippie from the 60s. I've watched America reach a crisis stage over the years, where its attention must be placed against much more serious crimes and even perhaps against illegal border penetration.

By the way, I still don't intend to use the stuff myself.