Pubdate: Fri, 18 Mar 2005 Source: Christian Science Monitor (US) Copyright: 2005 The Christian Science Publishing Society Contact: http://www.csmonitor.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/83 Author: Kirk Muse Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n415/a07.html LEGALIZATION WOULD STEM MARIJUANA BOOM Regarding the March 11 article "Marijuana industry booming in Canada": The marijuana industry is booming in Canada largely because US drug policies make the easy-to-grow weed more valuable than pure gold. If marijuana were sold in licensed business establishments where it could be regulated, controlled, and taxed, the bootleg "grow operations" would disappear in a heartbeat - just as our bathtub gin operations disappeared in a heartbeat when alcohol was relegalized. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth