Pubdate: Fri, 09 Nov 2012
Source: Walker County Messenger (GA)
Copyright: 2012 Walker County Messenger.
Contact:  http://www.walkermessenger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2755
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n564/a07.html

CRIMINALIZING AMERICANS WHO PREFER MARIJUANA TO MARTINIS

Regarding George Reed's Nov. 7 column, the drug war is largely a war 
on marijuana smokers. In 2010, there were 853,839 marijuana arrests 
in the U.S., 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 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, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C.
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