Pubdate: Sun, 06 Jul 2008
Source: Grand Forks Herald (ND)
Copyright: 2008 Grand Forks Herald
Contact:  http://www.northscape.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/513
Author: Del Snavely

LEGALIZE, REGULATE AND TAX CANNABIS

CROSBY, N.D. -- After educating North Dakotans on the science of 
cannabis for almost two years, I've seen a majority agree that 
cannabis prohibition is wrong. So, here are more facts about cannabis.

There are more than 600 medicinal and hundreds of hemp strains of 
cannabis. Their uses range from curing cancer to making plastic and 
biofuel. They're not going away.

When we decide to segregate the different strains and regulate 
cannabis as a commodity (as we can), making it available legally in 
pharmacies, coffee shops and liquor stores to adults older than 21, 
these are the headlines that could result:

- - "High taxes imposed on cannabis bringing in millions."

- - "Cannabis cures cancer; millions being cured with only treatment 
that protects healthy cells."

- - "Cannabis black market reduced to nothing. Teen use down; police 
have time for crimes with victims."

- - "Thanks to cannabis, prescription drug overdoses down."

- - "Reduced prison population means money for real drug treatment."

- - "Teen dangerous drug use down."

- - "Cannabis use no longer results in criminal records or scholarship 
denials for students."

- - "Cannabis removed from drug-test list for nondangerous jobs."

- - "U.S. no longer boasts world's largest prison system."

- - "Drunk driving deaths, domestic violence falls as cannabis proves 
safer than alcohol."

Amazing things will happen when we again repeal prohibition. As 
pharmaceutical companies would say, "The benefits far outweigh the risks."

Alcohol prohibition was repealed state by state before the 
Constitution did the job. North Dakotans are compassionate and 
intelligent people. We can remove the prohibition of 
cannabis/marijuana/hemp here and show the country that we won't 
criminalize our population only to satisfy an out-of-control federal 
government.

It is impossible to regulate anything that is not legal. It's time 
for regulation and harm reduction.

Del Snavely

Snavely is a member of the Medical Cannabis Association of North Dakota.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom