Pubdate: Fri, 08 Oct 2004 Source: Oregonian, The (Portland, OR) Copyright: 2004 The Oregonian Contact: http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324 Author: Robert Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1406/a09.html ALLOW RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA Not only should medical marijuana be made available to patients in need, but also, adult recreational use should be regulated. There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from drugs. What's needed is a regulated market with age controls. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as marijuana distribution remains in organized crime's hands, consumers will come into contact with drugs like methamphetamine. This "gateway" is the result of a fundamentally flawed policy. It makes no sense to waste tax dollars on failed policies that finance organized crime and facilitate hard drug use. Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like to think the children are more important than the message. Robert Sharpe Policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin