Pubdate: Thu, 30 Oct 2014
Source: News-Gazette, The (Champaign, IL)
Copyright: 2014 The News-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.news-gazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1272
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n835/a09.html

MARIJUANA POLICIES ARE THE PROBLEM

Regarding John Roska's Oct. 26 column in The News-Gazette Business 
section, 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. So much for 
protecting the children.

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

Policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom