As I left the Richland Walmart in November, I was approached by a young man who asked if I was a registered voter. I said yes. He asked if I wanted to sign an initiative to legalize marijuana? I read over the basics of the initiative and readily signed it. Thereafter I went online and obtained copies of the initiative, which I returned signing by like-minded voters.

I had always been against legalizing the use of drugs. But after watching all the money spent by the federal, state and local governments to apprehend and jail sellers and users of marijuana, it seems to me that we have another prohibition problem -- the wrong people are making money off the sales and people are being prosecuted for an act that has harmed no one.

What people do in the privacy of their home is no business of any government unless it is involved with a violent crime. Marijuana growing and sales should be controlled by the state of Washington, and those who are under the influence in public or driving a vehicle should be assessed the same penalties as those guilty of an alcohol offense.

I am not implying the state should be the grower, but the controller. I hope the Legislature will take this matter up and if not, the initiative should be put on next November's ballot.

-- Dan Suter, West Richland