One item left on state agenda: legalize pot

Kudos to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee who suspended the practice of state-sponsored murder, aka death penalty, in Washington for the duration of his term. Inslee is working with his constituents and the legislature to make the ban permanent prior to expiration of his gubernatorial suspension.

That makes Washington the 21st of 50 states that have abolished or suspended the death penalty, which itself is now on a version of death row. Eight Washington men scheduled to walk the Green Mile some years hence get a reprieve and possibly a long life to contemplate the heinousness of their crimes. Let's hope they achieve personal redemption and become positive forces within their lifetime prison community before Father Time, rather than the hangman, takes them.

But Washington has much more to be proud of. It is the sole state that has abolished the death penalty, legalized gay marriage and, to promote personal happiness, authorized use of marijuana for recreational purposes. That's my kind of state! Illinois is not far behind with two out of three.

Come on, Land of Lincoln. Let us adult Illinoisans exercise our human right to ingest, in the privacy of our castles, the residue of a plant that is not addictive, has no proven health hazards, has many medicinal purposes and could help make Illinois financially sound once again to boot.

Walt Zlotow

Glen Ellyn