Pubdate: Wed, 17 May 2006 Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK) Copyright: 2006 The Anchorage Daily News Contact: http://www.adn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18 Author: Robert Sharpe Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) RECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA CREATES MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR HARDER DRUGS If Gov. Frank Murkowski signs the bill to recriminalize marijuana, Alaska's methamphetamine problem will grow. As long as there is a demand for marijuana, there will be a supply. Eliminating Alaska homegrown marijuana (made possible by existing privacy laws) only to have it replaced by international drug cartels that also sell cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine is not necessarily a good thing. There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal records. What's 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. This "gateway" is the direct result of a fundamentally flawed policy. 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, policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman