Marijuana biases create injustices

Our local justice system is in great need of reform, and that doesn’t mean we need bigger jails. In fact, that means we need to try to reduce population in jails, by giving people the tools they need to help them succeed, not fail in becoming a better citizen of our community.

There are many things we can do like provide drug prevention programs, life coping skills, anger control, career readiness, etc. However, our courts only create failure and keep people in the “system” when they restrict their chances by denying them the right to their “legal” access to “medical marijuana” while on probation!

Arkansans voted to have medical marijuana, recognizing that it is indeed “medicine” to many users. This is the preferable drug to stronger prescription drugs like clonazepam, that are far more addictive, yet allowed. This is also preferable to alcohol, which has one of the highest correlations for crimes, especially violent ones, or DUI’s. Medical Marijuana is preferable for those who have had serious drug addictions to meth, cocaine, fentanyl or heroin. It makes no sense to deny its use while on probation.

For someone on probation who is trying to cope with drug addiction, moods, depression, while working hard to support themselves with jobs, this “denial” only sets them up for failure. Requiring a probationer to rely on prescription medications, which can create many harmful side effects, when they’ve been well served by medical marijuana makes no sense at all. All it says to me is that our justice system is working hard to try to keep our jails and prisons full.

Please tell me that I’m wrong!

DENICE NELSON Fayetteville