Pubdate: Fri, 25 Feb 2011
Source: Courier-Islander (CN BC)
Copyright: 2011 Courier-Islander (Campbell River)
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/courierislander/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4074
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n096/a03.html

BLACK TO BE COMMENDED FOR MARIJUANA COMMENTS

Arthur Black is to be commended for raising awareness of the ugly 
truth behind marijuana prohibition. If health outcomes determined 
drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal. Early 
20th century warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages in 
dark-skinned minorities have been counterproductive. White North 
Americans did not even begin to smoke marijuana until government 
bureaucracies began funding reefer madness propaganda.

Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose 
death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. 
Marijuana may be relatively harmless, but marijuana prohibition is 
deadly. As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution, 
consumers will continue to come into contact with addictive drugs 
like cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. This "gateway" is a direct 
result of marijuana prohibition.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom