Pubdate: Sun, 22 Sep 2013
Source: Observer, The (UK)
Copyright: 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited
Contact:  http://www.observer.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/315
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n471/a02.html

THE CANNABIS MARKET MUST BE DECRIMINALISED AND REGULATED

Protecting children from hard drugs is vital

Regarding your thoughtful leader ("We can't hide from the realities 
of the drugs economy any longer", Comment), there is a big difference 
between condoning cannabis use and protecting children from drugs. 
Decriminalisation acknowledges the social reality of cannabis and 
spares users criminal records. What's really needed is a regulated 
market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as 
organised crime controls cannabis distribution, consumers of cannabis 
will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

Cannabis is less harmful than legal alcohol. It makes no sense to 
waste limited public resources on failed cannabis policies that 
finance organised crime and facilitate hard drug use. Taxing and 
regulating cannabis may send the wrong message to children, but I 
like to think the children are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe Policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, DC
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom