Legalization would fill gap

My letter to the editor concerning the legalizing marijuana to fund Medicaid was published in today's Montgomery Advertiser. It is slightly different than the one which appeared in the BHAM News yesterday.

Legalization would fill gap

The recent defeat of the jobs bill and the possibility that Medicaid services will be unfunded throughout the coming fiscal year spells disaster for Alabama's poor. Pregnant women who depend on Medicaid will be unable to get prenatal care. Our state already has the second highest infant mortality rate in the nation.

Sure, we could borrow money, but with the national debt higher than it has ever been, there really isn't any money to borrow. Besides, there's a better solution.

Legalize the sale of marijuana to adults and use the tax proceeds to offset budget shortfalls.

Currently Alabama spends hundreds of millions a year to enforce marijuana laws. That money is used to arrest, prosecute and incarcerate non-violent citizens. It produces nothing except a huge burden on taxpayers and has no impact on marijuana use. It is the epitome of a negative return on an investment.

It costs $132 million to house the drug offender population in state prisons. That is almost enough to entirely fund the Medicaid budget. If Alabama legalized marijuana that would be another $132 million. That's $264 million. More than enough to fund Medicaid with $66 million left over.

Marijuana will never be eradicated, and people will never stop growing, buying, selling or consuming it. Instead of enriching violent drug cartels, expanding the prison industrial complex and bankrupting taxpayers, let's legalize it and use the money generated for positive, life-enhancing programs.

Loretta Nall
Alexander City
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Corrections: Release Inmates to Save Money

I had the following letter published in today's Birmingham News.

Corrections: Release inmates to save money

Much has been written recently about the dire financial circumstances of the Alabama Department of Corrections. According to a story in The Birmingham News, Commissioner Richard Allen said there will be a $15 million shortfall in 2010, which could lead to early releases and layoffs. The state's General Fund is ailing, and it isn't likely the $15 million will come from there. However, I have a simple plan that would provide the $15 million with gobs of money left over.

According to the department's Web site, there are currently 8,641 prisoners serving time for drug violations at a cost of $15,223 a year each. That costs Alabama taxpayers around $132 million a year. If the nonviolent drug offenders were released, that $15 million would be readily available, plus an additional $117 million left over. It's really a no-brainer.

Locking people up in our prison system because we disagree with their intoxicant of choice is responsible for the financial crises. What it hasn't done -- and never will do -- is stop people from using drugs, reduce violence associated with the drug trade or keep drugs out of the hands of children. Think of all the other worthy programs that $132 million could be used for.

Loretta Nall
Alexander City