Ann O'Connor
Boston Globe

THE DISTRICT attorneys featured in this article "DAs fight bid to ease penalty for marijuana" (Page A1, Oct. 20) are so high on their own conceit that they can't see the possibilities in proposed changes to the current marijuana law under Question 2. Teens and young adults will do stupid, impulsive things that they will regret later. The current laws could keep offenders out of jobs well suited to them, such as social worker or teacher. A teen in trouble is likely to open up to someone in those roles who had been in a similar situation. This is an opportunity for empathy - something for which the DAs in your story may have lost the capacity. If we still believe people can be rehabilitated, we should prove it by voting for reforming marijuana laws. Besides, with the fees and fines attached to the reform, the state may have found a way to close the budget shortfall.

Ann O'Connor
Cambridge