Why all the buzz about pot use?

Feb. 1 Daily Herald, Section 1, Page 2: "Obama's half-brother arrested."

Feb. 2 Daily Herald, Sports, Page 2: "Phelps apologizes for photo."

Please note both alcohol and nicotine are recreational drugs, but are promoted by our society. According to the federal government's own study (The Shafer Report), marijuana has no long-term effects and most users stop out of boredom. Alcohol is identified by The Shafer Report to be "the" gateway drug, instead of pot.

My question is, why in this enlightened age, when money is so scarce, are we still prosecuting? Tax revenues alone would be much "higher."

Diana Skipworth

Geneva