Pubdate: Sun, 13 Mar 2005
Source: Langley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 BC Newspaper Group and New Media Development
Contact:  http://www.langleytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1230
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n412/a11.html

HARD/SOFT DIFFERENCES

Editor: Re: Blame it on Ottawa (The Times, March 6).

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting 
children from drugs. The Liberal decriminalization bill acknowledges the 
social reality of marijuana use and frees users from the stigma of 
life-shattering criminal records. What's really needed is a regulated 
market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as marijuana 
distribution remains in the hands of organized crime, consumers will 
continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine. This 
"gateway" is the direct result of a fundamentally-flawed policy.

Given that marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol, it makes no 
sense to waste scarce resources on failed policies that finance organized 
crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs.

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, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C. 
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