Legalizing recreational cannabis use recently died in the Senate Health Committee (“Hawaii decides again not to legalize marijuana,” Star-Advertiser, March 3). Perhaps lawmakers recognized the potential harm to the health and well-being of the citizens of Hawaii.

Yet, significant support for legalization continues. Phil Robertson said that “a huge majority of the state of Hawaii favors legalized recreational marijuana” (“Legislators ignore will of people on legalizing pot,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 6). No statistics were cited. He and I must run in different circles; people I know oppose the legalization by a wide margin.

But let’s assume that this is correct. Should our lawmakers blindly bow to the “will of the people?”

I’m sure that a huge majority of Hawaii also favors much lower taxes. While it sounds great, reducing taxes would impair programs that help citizens and fund education. I want my representatives to carefully consider all aspects of legislation and not act solely on what the majority thinks they want. Sometimes we need government to save us from ourselves.

Doug Rinehart

Salt Lake

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