Pubdate: Wed, 10 Jul 2013
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Robert Sharpe
Page: A17
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n323/a03.html

REGULATE MARIJUANA

Regarding Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq's op-ed, not only should
medical marijuana be made available to patients in need, but adult
recreational use should be regulated. Drug policies modelled after
alcohol prohibition have given rise to a youth-oriented black market.
Drug dealers don't ID for age, but do recruit kids immune to adult
sentences.

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 fuels crime.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a
cost-effective alternative to the 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. This "gateway" is a direct result
of marijuana prohibition.

Robert Sharpe, drug policy analyst, Arlington, Va.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt