LETTERS: EFFORTS TO ERADICATE MARIJUANA IN MISSOURI ARE A COLOSSAL WASTE

To the editor:

Marijuana eradication efforts by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies are a colossal waste of limited resources.

The patrol has admitted that 99 percent of the marijuana seized is, in fact, wild, uncultivated hemp plants.

The tremendous waste of federal and state tax money squandered on helicopter surveillance and guerrilla-style raids on otherwise law-abiding citizens should be stopped.

Our prisons are bursting because of the imprisonment of non-violent, victimless offenders. Meanwhile, violent convicts are released early to make room for marijuana offenders.

Call or write your state legislators and members of Congress and tell them to put an end to this foolishness.

DAN VIETS

Columbia