Pubdate: Thu, 4 Mar 2010
Source: Boulder Weekly (CO)
Copyright: 2010 Boulder Weekly
Contact:  http://www.boulderweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/57
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n142/a03.html
Author: Kirk Muse

CAGES WON'T STOP DRUG USE

I'm writing about Robert Sharpe's thoughtful letter: "DEA raids help
cartels" (Letters, Feb. 25). I'd like to add that it makes no sense,
economic or moral, to jail or imprison marijuana users or sellers. Our
jails and prisons should be reserved for those who harm others against
their will - not marijuana users, sellers or growers.

We don't jail or imprison those who produce, sell or use tobacco
products, even though tobacco is a highly addictive and very deadly
product.

We don't have criminals growing tobacco in clandestine
locations.

We don't have tobacco producers or sellers attempting to settle their
disputes with each other with gun battles in the streets.

If we were to criminalize tobacco, the situation would
change.

We learned our lesson about criminalizing the drug alcohol in only 13
years. Why can't we learn the same lesson about marijuana?

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake