Legal marijuana

Re “Pot won’t help” (Your Views,

Nov. 22): Sylvia Snow’s letter quoting the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention misses Gov. Ralph Northam’s enlightened goal. Neurologist Northam understands the negative effects of marijuana use, also alcohol. The harmful effects of alcohol supersede marijuana’s results on one’s body. Legal alcohol is a prime tax revenue source for the commonwealth. Thank you, George Washington. Alcohol distribution through ABC retail stores is a Virginia job factory. These taxed retail sales generate further revenues through job holders’ personal income, personal property and real estate taxes.

Legal marijuana will prove to “blow the doors off” the Virginia Department of Taxation. New businesses, careers and jobs will develop varied sources of revenue, increasing the commonwealth tax base. No doubt Virginia international trade will expand with increased cargo through the Norfolk International Terminals. Our trading partners will continue to seek Virginia agriculture tobacco products, along with Virginia-grown marijuana.

The public has come to realize the harmful pretentious insincerity of marijuana prohibition. Alcohol prohibition was a dismal failure. Both of these social-control public policies have proven to be counter productive to our democracy. Business development has been and is stifled. One result being the creation of an unworthy youthful criminal class composed of America’s sons and daughters.

David Aument, Norfolk