Pubdate: Thu, 27 Jun 2013
Source: Daily American (Somerset, PA)
Copyright: 2013 The Daily American
Contact:  http://www.dailyamerican.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4055
Author: Brian Whipkey

WE DON'T NEED MARIJUANA

In the news business you never know which article is going to receive 
a response from the readership. For example, we published an 
editorial Sunday arguing that Pennsylvania shouldn't legalize marijuana.

I figured it would be a relatively safe editorial as most people 
believe smoking drugs is a bad idea.

After the editorial was published we received a letter to the editor 
from the bill's primary sponsor.

State Sen. Daylin Leach, a Democrat representing Delaware and 
Montgomery counties, believes the costs for law enforcement and 
correctional institutions no longer justify the need to regulate a 
drug that has effects similar to alcohol.

"In 2010, Pennsylvania spent more than $100 million enforcing 
marijuana possession laws even though marijuana arrests only 
accounted for 37 percent of drug arrests. That is a lot of taxpayer 
money being spent to arrest a small number of people using a drug 
that has been found less harmful than both alcohol and tobacco," he 
wrote in his letter.

Regarding safety he wrote: "If the sale of marijuana was regulated, 
users could obtain it in small, safe amounts deemed appropriate by 
the state. Much like visiting the state store to buy liquor, 
marijuana smokers could purchase what they needed without endangering 
themselves in the process."

Another incentive for the government is that the bill would create an 
excise tax on the sale of marijuana.

Instead of spending money on law enforcement against those smoking 
and manufacturing marijuana, the state is looking at making money 
from this industry.

It's hard to tell if the bill will go anywhere. It currently awaits 
consideration by the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

The reality is our country is sending mixed messages. In states like 
New York, people are trying to pass legislation that limits the size 
of your favorite sugary beverage in the name of protecting your 
health. But in other states like Pennsylvania, there are efforts to 
approve the sale of products that can immediately endanger your life 
and cause you to lose your job and driver's license.

If the bill becomes law and people are allowed to use marijuana 
legally, can you imagine the challenges that would be placed on 
businesses and school systems?

Employees, including those in sensitive work environments, could 
enjoy marijuana after work and those who supervise them should be OK 
with it. It would have the same regulations as having a few beers after work.

It just doesn't make sense.

Yes, the war on drugs is expensive, but the cost of allowing drug use 
may be even higher on society.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom