Pubdate: Sun, 30 Apr 2006
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Copyright: 2006 The Des Moines Register.
Contact:  http://desmoinesregister.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123
Author: Carl Olsen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Note: Title shortened for archiving purposes; originally titled "How 
To Control 'Wicked Weed': Legalize And Regulate It" (2 Of 5)

LEGALIZE AND REGULATE IT

The problem with marijuana is an unregulated market. Remember alcohol 
prohibition in the 1930s? You had high-potency forms of alcohol being 
made in people's bathtubs, only bathtub gin was often toxic. Even at 
today's higher standards of potency, marijuana still hasn't produced 
a single death in recorded history.

If you want to have any kind of control you have to legalize and 
regulate the commercial production and sale [of marijuana].

All the exaggerated scare stories have only increased interest in, 
and experimentation with, marijuana. I'm sure all the pot dealers 
want to thank the Register for the free advertising.

If your kid experiments with alcohol, at least your kid isn't going 
to be stigmatized for life by a drug conviction. The chances for 
intervention and treatment are better when society recognizes that 
people need help instead of locking them up and labeling them as 
rejects for the rest of their lives.

So, go on keeping marijuana illegal and forcing it into the black 
market. See where it has gotten you?

- -- Carl Olsen

Des Moines.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman