Pubdate: Thu, 20 Sep 2012
Source: Norman Transcript (OK)
Copyright: 2012 The Norman Transcript
Contact:  http://www.normantranscript.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/552
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n460/a02.html

MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED

The drug war (reference column Sept. 16) 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 
public resources criminalizing Americans who prefer marijuana to 
martinis. The end result of this ongoing culture war is not 
necessarily lower rates of use.

The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, 
where marijuana is legally available. Decriminalization is a long 
overdue step in the right direction. 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, MPA

Policy analyst,

Common Sense for Drug Policy

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