Pubdate: Mon, 12 Sep 2005
Source: East Valley Tribune (AZ)
Copyright: 2005 East Valley Tribune.
Contact:  http://www.eastvalleytribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2708
Author: Kirk Muse

MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED, TAXED

I'm writing about Jason Ziedenberg's outstanding Tuesday column: "Anti-pot
spending just goes up in smoke."

Our government is wasting countless billions attempting to eradicate an
easy-to-grow weed that at least 90 million Americans have used. The net
result is that marijuana is just as available today as it was in the 1970s.

Instead of attempting to nullify the immutable law of supply and demand, our
government should regulate, control and tax marijuana. We could easily tax
it at about 90 percent of its retail price, the vast majority of which is
the result of the "prohibition tax," now going to organized crime.

If marijuana were regulated, controlled, taxed and sold in licensed business
establishments like alcohol and tobacco, we would close the gateway to hard
drugs.

When I was a marijuana user, which was more than 15 years ago, I was
frequently offered free samples of other, much more dangerous drugs, like
cocaine and speed. Yet I've never been offered a free sample of whiskey or
vodka or any other type of hard liquor when buying beer or wine.

For the sake of our children we should regulate, control and tax the
unregulated drugs.

KIRK MUSE

MESA
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh