Pubdate: Fri, 30 Apr 2010
Source: Statesman Journal (Salem, OR)
Copyright: 2010 Statesman Journal
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/QEzJupzz
Website: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/427
Author: Sally Hollemon

MAKING POT LEGAL WOULD SOLVE MANY PROBLEMS

The newspaper reports that drug cartels are armed to protect their 
marijuana gardens on public land. There is obviously a large market 
for marijuana, and pot growers are entrepreneurs filling that market.

Wouldn't it be safer for everyone if marijuana were decriminalized? 
Then pot growers could have their gardens on their own land and be 
taxed like other farmers. Law enforcement officers wouldn't have to 
risk their lives trying to eradicate part of the crop from public 
lands, and those lands would be safe for hikers and other people who 
like to be outdoors.

Marijuana use would be like alcohol use is now, and treatment should 
be available for the small percentage of users who get in trouble 
with their drug of choice.

- -- Sally Hollemon, Salem
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom