Your article of Sept. 24, Experts Disagree on Merits of Legalizing Marijuana,Œ noted that Derrick Grimmer, a scientist at Iowa State’s Microelectronics Research Center, believes prohibiting drug use is a method the government uses to control citizens. I have to heartily agree.

Marijuana prohibition makes everyone less free, even people who do not use it. Because of marijuana prohibition, our Constitution and Bill of Rights are now riddled with drug war exemptions.

The 4th Amendment protections against illegal search and seizure have been almost destroyed. Police routinely coerce motorists into giving up their rights under duress, using threats like drug dog searches, etc. And police often make mistakes on drug raids, storming the wrong house, even injuring or killing innocent people.

It¡s clear there¡s still some hope that rational drug policies may yet prevail.

Still, there is a lot of work to be done, and that includes talking to candidates seeking election this November and voting accordingly.

Gary Storck

Madison, WI