The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

I am glad to live in a community where we can put to rest the myth that smoking marijuana is a fringe activity engaged in only by those on the margins of American society.

In reality, marijuana smoking is extremely common, and marijuana is the recreational drug of choice for tens of millions of mainstream, middle-class Americans. Many successful people including business, professional and political leaders admit they have used marijuana.

With the recent changes in our state marijuana legislation, we can finally stop acting as if otherwise law-abiding marijuana smokers are part of the crime problem. They are not, and it would be absurd to continue to spend law enforcement resources arresting them.

Marijuana smokers in this country are no different from their nonsmoking peers, except for their marijuana use. Like most Americans, they are responsible citizens who work hard, raise families, contribute to their communities and want a safe, crime-free neighborhood in which to live.

The voice of reason prevails … Gone are the days when time and money will be wasted seeking out, arresting and jailing individuals who choose to use marijuana.

Tom Hawkins