Pubdate: Mon, 11 Jan 2016
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2016 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.utsandiego.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386
Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area.
Author: Tom Wright

PROHIBITION FILM BRINGS CONTEMPORARY MESSAGE

Recently KPBS rebroadcast the Ken Burns documentary "Prohibition." It 
showed the unintended consequences of the attempt to legislate morality.

There are important parallels to today's situation regarding marijuana.

Both Prohibition and current federal marijuana laws result in vast 
numbers of people deciding it's OK to break laws they don't agree 
with. Both pump money into criminal organizations funding corruption 
and other criminal activities. Both bring customers into contact with 
other opportunities to break the law. Both cost millions to fight, 
but when legal would bring in huge tax revenue.

In any rational study, the downside of the unintended consequences of 
federal marijuana laws far outweigh any possible upside of 
suppressing consumption.

Tom Wright

San Diego
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