Pubdate: Thu, 06 Aug 2015
Source: Tucson Weekly (AZ)
Copyright: 2015 Tucson Weekly
Contact:  http://www.tucsonweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/462
Author: Dan Kingston, azmarijuana.com

MMJ/LEGALIZATION OPINION

Four Reasons Why Law Enforcement Should Support Legalizing

Law enforcement was designed to protect our
communities, but marijuana prohibition=ADand the
drug war as a whole=ADhas become an overbearing
distraction towards the maintaining of public
safety. Prohibition contributes to an overall
decrease in public safety and misuse of valuable
resources. Here's why law enforcement across the
country and around the world are pushing for marijuana legalization:

1. MARIJUANA PROHIBITION FUNDS CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS

Criminalizing a high-demand commodity only
creates an illegal marketplace that generates
wealth for individuals seeking to profit. If
legalized, marijuana would create a legal
marketplace and diminish illegal operations.
Marijuana is often called the =93cash crop=94 by
Mexican cartels, and legalizing medical marijuana
access and recreational access in only a few
states has already begun to weaken their cash
flow. Nationwide marijuana legalization would
devastate the enormous and lethal underground
networks brought about by prohibition.

2. MARIJUANA PROHIBITION OVERBURDENS THE LEGAL SYSTEM

Minor marijuana possession or consumption arrests
wastes time and resources at every step of the
legal process. Arresting officers must file
paperwork, possibly make a court appearance=96all
of which account for time and money that could be
spent on catching and arresting people posing a
danger to others, such as murders, rapists, con
artists, terrorists, etc. Law enforcement used to
solve 90 percent of murder cases, but now only 64
percent get solved. Furthermore, only 40 percent
of rape cases are solved and there are an
estimated 400,000 unprocessed rape
kits-containing crucial evidence to prosecute
dangerous criminals-sitting in storage across the U.S.

3. MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS DETRIMENTAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH

People in need of medical help should never have
to forego treatment for fear of being arrested or
be considered a criminal for using medicine that
helps them. Arresting elderly, sick and disabled
individuals for deciding to use marijuana instead
of prescription drugs is unethical and a waste of
time. Law enforcement should be catching criminals that are a risk to
 society.

4. MARIJUANA PROHIBITION ENDANGERS CHILDREN

In much of the U.S., marijuana access is
unlimited, unregulated and uncontrolled because
it is prohibited. Yet it's still being sold.
Americans need to ask themselves: Who do we want
in charge of those sales, =93licensed and regulated
businesses or illegal cartels?=94 Furthermore,
unregulated marijuana often contains toxins or is
laced with dangerous substances. Put simply,
cartels don't care about the age of their
customers. Legalizing and regulating marijuana by
selling it in childproof containers is one of the
best ways to keep children safe.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom