Pubdate: Wed, 20 Mar 2013
Source: Metrowest Daily News (MA)
Copyright: 2013 MetroWest Daily News
Contact:  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/619
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n123/a09.html

LEGALIZE, REGULATE ALL MARIJUANA USE

Regarding your Mar. 16 editorial ("Respect voters on medical 
marijuana"), 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 Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom