Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jul 2009
Source: News & Observer (Raleigh, NC)
Copyright: 2009 The News and Observer Publishing Company
Contact: http://www.newsobserver.com/484/story/433256.html
Website: http://www.newsobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/304
Author: Stuart Wells

RICH REVENUE SOURCE

Regarding "Aerial sleuthing finds pot worth $27 million" in Sampson
County (June 27 news article):

Another $27 million of untaxed and unregulated marijuana, one of our
biggest if not the biggest cash crop. No suspects, irrigation -- every
year these operations are more sophisticated and elaborate.

All we are succeeding at with marijuana prohibition (70 years now) is
building organized crime and taking resources away from actual drug
problems. Some of those resources being seats in rehab, probation
officers, time or money for after-school programs. There are medicinal
uses of marijuana and it is impossible to overdose on (attempts to
determine marijuana's LD-50 rating in test animals, has been
unsuccessful), so what are we thinking?

Everything is being cut and taxes being raised, yet we continue to
squander money and leave marijuana in a marketplace that has no age
restrictions.

Stuart Wells

Fuquay-Varina
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake