Pubdate: Thu, 22 Nov 2012
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Copyright: 2012 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n585/a11.html

LEGAL IS BETTER, ALL THE WAY AROUND

Re "Marijuana is legal!" by Ngaio Bealum (SN&R The 420, November
15):

The voters of Colorado and Washington state have made it clear that
the federal government can no longer get away with confusing the drug
war's tremendous collateral damage with a comparatively harmless
plant. If the goal of marijuana prohibition is to subsidize violent
drug cartels, prohibition is a success. The drug war distorts
supply-and-demand dynamics so that big money grows on little trees. If
the goal of marijuana prohibition is to deter use, prohibition is a
failure. The United States has double the rate of use as the
Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. The criminalization
of Americans who prefer marijuana to martinis has no basis in science.
The war on marijuana consumers is a failed cultural inquisition, not a
public-health campaign. It's time for politicians to catch up with the
people and end marijuana prohibition.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy
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MAP posted-by: Matt