Pot Prohibition Reaps Harvest of Pollution

Regarding the 6,000 marijuana plants found in the endangered species habitat of the Angeles National Forest (Aug. 1): Here is a prime example of why drug prohibition is far worse than a controlled and regulated system. If it were not for our nation’s prohibitionist policies, that endangered habitat would still be in its pristine condition.

Marijuana prohibition has been in effect for going on 70 years, yet there is more marijuana being grown is this country now. These growing operations are just like the moonshine stills of alcohol prohibition, except on a much grander scale and far more devastating to the environment. This won’t be the last article about a big bust where growers were growing thousands of plants and had hundreds of pounds of toxic chemicals polluting our rivers and streams. Just because drugs are bad, it doesn’t mean prohibition is good.

Curt Wagoner

La Pine, Ore.