Pubdate: Sat, 19 May 2012
Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT)
Copyright: 2012 Robert Sharpe
Contact:  http://www.sltrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383
Author: Robert Sharpe

END WAR ON MARIJUANA

Re "End failed drug war" (Forum, May 17):

The drug war is largely a war on marijuana smokers. In 2010, there 
were 853,839 marijuana arrests in the United States, almost 90 
percent for simple possession.

At a time when state and local governments are laying off police, 
firefighters and teachers, this country continues to spend enormous 
resources criminalizing Americans who prefer marijuana to martinis.

The end result of this ongoing culture war is not necessarily lower 
rates of use. The United States has higher rates of marijuana use 
than the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available.

Decriminalization is long overdue. Taxing and regulating marijuana 
would render the drug war obsolete.

As long as organized crime controls distribution, marijuana consumers 
will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like 
methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. This "gateway" is a direct 
result of marijuana prohibition.

Robert Sharpe Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom