Pubdate: Fri, 27 Apr 2012
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 Doug Munro
Contact: 
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Doug Munro
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n238/a08.html

POT ARGUMENT UNCONVINCING

Re: "Legalize marijuana," by Robert Sharpe, Letters, April 24. I read 
with disbelief the letter from Robert Sharpe, a policy analyst with 
the Washington, D.C., group Common Sense for Drug Policy. Sharpe 
displayed anything but common sense in his reasoning for the 
legalization of marijuana and the expansion of heroin maintenance.

The suggestion that legalizing marijuana will prevent its users from
coming into contact with "hard drugs" and moving up the drug addiction
ladder is nonsense. Sharpe attempts to sell us on the harmlessness of
marijuana, then in his next sentence takes his cue straight from the
1930s anti-marijuana propaganda film Reefer Madness by suggesting that
marijuana, and its prohibition, is the "gateway" to hard drug use.

Sharpe also suggests that expanding the heroin maintenance program
would render heroin trafficking unprofitable and "spare future
generations addiction."

Based on this logic, I am surprised he did not suggest that society
simply provide citizens with the drug of their choice, thus
eliminating all illegal drug trafficking.

Doug Munro, Edmonton
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