Pubdate: Fri, 24 Sep 2010
Source: Desert Dispatch, The (Victorville, CA)
Copyright: 2010 Robert Sharpe
Contact:  http://www.desertdispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3218
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n759/a06.html

DRUG WAR HASN'T LOWERED DRUG USE

Regarding the Desert Dispatch's thoughtful Sept. 16 editorial ("Prop. 
19 a chance to help end failed drug war"), the drug war is largely a 
war on marijuana smokers. In 2009, there were 858,408 marijuana 
arrests in the U.S., almost 90 percent for simple possession. At a 
time when state and local governments are laying off police, 
firefighters and teachers, this country continues to spend enormous 
public resources criminalizing Americans who prefer marijuana to 
martinis. The end result of this ongoing culture war is not 
necessarily lower rates of use.

The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, 
where marijuana is legally available. Decriminalization is a long 
overdue step in the right direction. Taxing and regulating marijuana 
would render the drug war obsolete. As long as organized crime 
controls distribution, marijuana consumers will come into contact 
with sellers of hard drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. 
This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy
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