Pubdate: Sun, 05 Jun 2011
Source: Billings Gazette, The (MT)
Copyright: 2011 The Billings Gazette
Contact: http://billingsgazette.com/app/contact/?contact=letter
Website: http://www.billingsgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/515
Author: Edwin L. Stickney, M.D.

REGULATING MARIJUANA MAKES MORE SENSE

News of the horrendous problems being created by drug cartels in
Mexico impels me to make the following categorical statement, which I
will be willing to debate with anyone: Were the United States to
change its drug policy by legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana,
our prison population would cease growing and Mexico's problems with
drug cartels would vanish overnight.

Our present policy is our No. 1 psychosis. It fosters widespread
illegal behavior and clogs our prison system with nonviolent
criminals. It took this country only 14 years to realize the futility
of alcohol prohibition, while drug prohibition has continued since
Nixon declared the war on drugs in 1972.

It is past time for us to legalize, tax and regulate
marijuana!

Edwin L. Stickney, M.D.

Billings
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.