Pubdate: Sat, 04 Feb 2012
Source: Holland Sentinel (MI)
Copyright: 2012 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact: http://extra.hollandsentinel.com/submitletter.shtml
Website: http://www.hollandsentinel.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1145
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n094/a06.html

A SMARTER POLICY IS TO REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL

Arlington, Va. -- Regarding The Sentinel's Jan. 29 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
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