Pubdate: Tue, 28 Feb 2006
Source: Ponoka News (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Ponoka News
Contact:  http://www.ponokanews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3819
Author: Kirk Muse
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n247/a08.html?296477

DON'T FOLLOW US SAYS AMERICAN

Dear Editor:

I'm writing about Jack A. Cole's letter "Legalize marijuana for 
adults" in the Jan. 21/06 issue of the Ponoka News.

In the Czech Republic, citizens can legally grow and possess small 
quantities of marijuana. The Czech overall drug arrest rate is one 
per 100,000 population. The U. S. overall drug arrest rate is 585 per 
100,000 population.

The Czech robbery rate is two per 100,000 population. The U. S. 
robbery rate is 145.9 per 100,000 population, according to the F. B. I.

According to our drug war cheerleaders, tolerant marijuana laws cause 
people to use other, much more dangerous drugs like meth and heroin.

Obviously, this doesn't happen in the Czech Republic. Why not? Could 
it be that when people can obtain marijuana at an affordable price, 
they tend not to use or desire any other recreational drugs? Could it 
be that marijuana legalization actually creates a roadblock to hard 
drug use--not a gateway?

My advice to Canada and the rest of the world: carefully study U. S. 
drug prohibition policies--then do the opposite. Don't follow us--we're lost.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, AZ  U. S. A.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom