Pubdate: Fri, 14 Dec 2012
Source: Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)
Copyright: 2012 The Virginian-Pilot
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/zJNzcThR
Website: http://hamptonroads.com/pilotonline
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/483
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n639/a01.html

POT SMOKERS SHOULDN'T BE CRIMINALS

RE 'TIME TO RETHINK the war on pot' (editorial, Dec. 11): 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 
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.

If the goal of marijuana prohibition is to deter use, prohibition is 
a failure. The United States has a higher rate of marijuana use than 
the Netherlands, where marijuana laws are rarely enforced.

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 an evidence-based public health campaign. 
It's time to stop the arrests and instead tax legal marijuana.

Robert Sharpe

Arlington
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom