Pubdate: Sat, 27 Aug 2011
Source: Midland Daily News (MI)
Copyright: 2011 Midland Daily News
Contact: http://www.ourmidland.com/submissions/?mode=letters
Website: http://www.ourmidland.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4293
Author: Robert Sharpe, Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n523/a10.html

TAX MARIJUANA

To the editor:

Regarding your Aug. 11 editorial, not only should medical marijuana be
made available to patients in need, but adult recreational use should
be regulated. Drug policies modeled after alcohol prohibition have
given rise to a youth-oriented black market. Illegal drug dealers
don't ID for age, but they do recruit minors immune to adult sentences.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit
the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only
increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs
like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to
increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war
doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a
cost-effective alternative to never-ending drug war. As long as
marijuana distribution is controlled by organized crime, consumers
will continue to come into contact with hard drugs like
methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. This "gateway" is a direct result
of marijuana prohibition.

ROBERT SHARPE 

Policy Analyst 

Common Sense for Drug Policy www.csdp.org
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.