Pubdate: Tue, 07 Jan 2014
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2014 The New York Times Company
Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/lettertoeditor.html
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Thomas Locke
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n016/a02.html
Note: Fourth of five

IS LEGALIZING MARIJUANA A BAD THING?

To the Editor:

David Brooks's stroll down memory lane scolds the citizens of Colorado
and Washington State for legalizing use of a plant that has been
readily available for millenniums (including to him as a teenager).

His column doesn't mention the larger context for our state's
decision: almost 80 years of a national drug policy that has utterly
failed to achieve its objective of public health protection and has
instead caused incalculable harm. Legalization, taxation and
regulation of cannabis products is a public policy experiment whose
effects are yet to be known.

Washington and Colorado residents have cast a decisive vote against
the failed drug-war policies and are making thoughtful efforts to try
something different. Other states will likely follow when the dire
predictions of drug-war defenders like Mr. Brooks fail to
materialize.

THOMAS LOCKE

Sequim, Wash., Jan. 3, 2014

The writer is a public health physician.  
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