Pubdate: Thu, 21 Feb 2013
Source: Glendale Star, The (AZ)
Copyright: 2013 Glendalestar.com, Glendale, AZ
Contact: http://www.glendalestar.com/site/forms/?mode=letters
Website: http://www.glendalestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5320
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n077/a04.html

MELVIN MCDONALD OP-ED ON TARGET

Regarding A. Melvin McDonald's Feb. 14 op-ed, not only should medical 
marijuana be made available to patients in need, but adult 
recreational use should be regulated. Drug policies modeled after 
alcohol prohibition have given rise to a youth-oriented black market. 
Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but they do recruit minors 
immune to adult sentences.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit 
the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only 
increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs 
like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to 
increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war 
doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a 
cost-effective alternative to never-ending drug war. As long as 
marijuana distribution is controlled by organized crime, consumers 
will continue to come into contact with hard drugs like 
methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Marijuana prohibition is a 
gateway drug policy.

Robert Sharpe, MPA, Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom