Pubdate: Fri, 3 Sep 2010
Source: DrugSense Blog
Website: http://drugsense.org/blog/

LETTER OF THE WEEK

END PROHIBITION, CALIFORNIA

Re "Legalizing is a dangerous choice" (Insight, Aug.  22): San Mateo 
Police Chief Susan Manheimer claims that after marijuana is 
legalized, drug cartels will continue to profit from selling 
it.  That's ridiculous.

As a former police chief myself (Seattle, 1994-2000), I'd 
respectfully like to ask Manheimer to show us the wine cartels that 
grow grapes in our national parks to compete with the legal and 
regulated alcohol industry.

Back here in reality, of course, we know that once America ended its 
failed experiment with alcohol prohibition, violent gangsters were no 
longer able to keep selling booze on the black market for a profit.

Similarly, we can drive street dealers out of business when we take 
marijuana out of the shadows and place it under the control of safe, 
regulated, licensed businesses.  Passing Proposition 19 will be good 
for police and for citizens who want safer streets.  It's the last 
thing the drug cartels want.

Norm Stamper, Eastsound, Wash.

Pubdate: Thu, 26 Aug 2010

Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n679/a06.html 
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