Marijuana Policy Project

You might think I'd get hammered for writing a column calling for legalization of marijuana. The opposite is true.

"Amen, brotha," wrote Joe, one of nearly 100 readers who responded to Friday's article. Four out of five agreed with me, and I'm sure they're not all raving potheads.

"I am not a user of marijuana. I am, however, tired of seeing huge amounts of funds used for chasing the demons dreamed up by our leaders, both local and nationally," said Bill.

Wrote another: "I am a white suburban 44-year-old wife, mother and professional woman. I completely agree with everything you said regarding the legalization, decriminalization and taxation of marijuana... I also do not think it is a 'gateway' drug for adults who use it responsibly for pain relief, chronic anxiety conditions, or just to relax after a stressful day."

The column followed police raids last week that netted 2,000 pot plants and five arrests. Oak Creek Police Chief Tom Bauer said it was an "interesting read," but he didn't like my assertion that his department and others turned the bust into a media show.

"If you lived in a neighborhood like that, wouldn't you want to know and see what's going on in your neighborhood? It's called crime prevention," he said.

A 77-year-old retired teacher seemed awfully worried about me.

"I hate to say it. I hope you were not, and are not, a drug addict yourself. But it seems like you might be," he told my voicemail.

I'm a chocolate junkie. That's it.

Another reader said he wants pot use "persecuted" to the fullest extent of the law. Then he called me a "dumb (expletive) piece of (expletive)" for thinking otherwise.

"Do you want your heavy equipment operator high? How about your electrician? Doctor? Dentist?" one reader asked. Of course not, at least not while they're functioning as my heavy equipment operator, electrician, doctor or dentist. They could just as easily be impaired right now on a legal substance.

Two probation agents and a prison worker came down on my side of the argument, saying marijuana offenders are a waste of their time and cell space.

Numerous readers like the idea of taxing legal marijuana and using the money to treat drug addiction, but one predicted users would grow their own to avoid the cost and the taxes.

I heard from a few weed smokers, including a 21-year-old woman who wrote: "Sure, pot is harmful to your (or my) body and you do lose brain cells, but isn't alcohol just as bad or even worse? And yet alcohol is EVERYWHERE! Apparently even at Chuck E. Cheese. Not once have I ever seen someone get into a random fight while high."

"If alcohol and tobacco are legal, why should marijuana be illegal?" said William.

"I feel sorry for these people who were arrested. They will be treated the same as if they were involved with heroin or a cocaine ring," Tom said.

"The 'war on drugs' is a multi-billion-dollar sham, and the pursuit of marijuana is the most absurd part of it," Terese wrote.

"I see no reason," said an older-sounding woman who left a message, "why the government is telling you what you can or cannot smoke."

"This is a vast and crazy world we live in; recreational marijuana use should be the very least of America's concerns," Colin wrote. "I know you'll probably catch a lot of flak for this article from soccer moms."

Surprisingly little.