Pubdate: Mon, 27 Aug 2001
Source: Oregonian, The (OR)
Website: http://www.oregonlive.com/
Address: 1320 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
Contact:  2001 The Oregonian
Fax: 503-294-4193
Author: Kirk Muse

SELL MARIJUANA IN SAFE PLACES

I agree with most of John Sajo's letter, "EASE, EXPAND MEDICAL MARIJUANA" 
(Aug. 16).  However, I disagree with his contention that medical marijuana 
users have no place to purchase their marijuana.

Almost any middle school or high school student can tell them where to get 
marijuana.  The problem is that marijuana sellers are often the same people 
who sell dangerous drugs such as heroin, crack cocaine and methamphetamine.

Most marijuana buyers are interested only in marijuana. However, they will 
be offered free samples of dangerous drugs.

Marijuana prohibition policies put both children and adults at great risk 
by forcing them to buy their relatively harmless marijuana from the 
unregulated underground black market.

In the Netherlands, marijuana is quasi-legal and sold to adults in coffee 
shops.  The Dutch rates of drug use are substantially lower than U. S. 
rates for all types of recreational drugs, especially hard drugs such as 
heroin.

Kirk Muse
Vancouver, Wash.
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