Pubdate: Wed, 18 Jun 2003
Source: Charlotte Creative Loafing (NC)
Copyright: 2003 Creative Loafing Charlotte, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.cln.com/charlotte/newsstand/current/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1100
Author: Greg Francisco

END POT PROHIBITION

Lucy Perkins is absolutely right ("Drugs R Us," June 11). Almost every 
state in the Union is facing budget shortfalls, yet we continue to waste 
billions in pursuit of the failed social policy of Prohibition. What began 
with the noblest of intentions, to protect society from the ravages of drug 
addiction and to protect citizens from themselves, has morphed into the 
Drug War, Inc., a massive workfare program for police, courts and prison 
guards.

Establishing a legal, tightly regulated market where adult citizens who so 
chose may purchase alcohol has proven to be vastly more successful in 
keeping booze out of the hands of children, eliminating the violence of 
turf wars, getting help for problem drinkers, and generating a reliable 
revenue stream for the state than Prohibition ever did. Why wouldn't we 
expect similar results by extending the same model to cannabis?

- -- Greg Francisco, Paw Paw, MI
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom