Pubdate: Thu, 11 Oct 2012
Source: Kamloops This Week (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Kamloops This Week
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsthisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1271
Author: Robert Sharpe

MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS GATEWAY-DRUG POLICY

Editor:

The vote by B.C. municipal leaders to lobby the federal government to
decriminalize marijuana is a step in the right direction.

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and
protecting children from drugs.

Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana and
frees users from criminal records.

What's really needed is a regulated market with age
controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical as the marijuana
plant is relatively harmless.

Marijuana prohibition, on the other hand, is deadly.

As long as drug cartels and biker gangs control marijuana
distribution, consumers of the most popular illicit drug will come
into contact with hard drugs like cocaine, meth and heroin.

Marijuana prohibition is a gateway-drug policy.

Robert Sharpe

policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

csdp.org
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt