it's time for a change Anyone with half a brain and who has been paying attention realizes that the war on drugs is a dismal failure. We've got to stop treating drug use as a criminal activity and start treating it as a public health issue like more progressive countries. I just want to pull my hair out when talking with someone who believes pot is evil while they have no problem pounding a few beers. The mis-information and prejudice in this country are astounding. George W.'s ads linking marijuana smokers to terrorists illustrate my point exactly. In 1977 Jimmy Carter said: "Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against the possession of marijuana in private for personal use."  Pretty wise words from a guy with one the highest IQs of any man that's served in office. It's too bad that almost 30 years later we're still treating marijuana smokers as criminals. Imagine if having that beer after work made you a criminal. In fact, at one time such an act was criminal but the government finally woke up and realized prohibition was a failure. It's time for another wake up call. I believe: - Marijuana should be legalized for personal and medical use. - Mandatory minimums are damaging and un-American. They take away the ability for a judge to exercise compassion in extenuating circumstances. - Mandatory drug tests are a violation of the 4th Amendment. The following organizations are dedicated to fixing the drug problem. Take a moment to visit their sites and get informed.