Pubdate: Mon, 04 Apr 2016 Source: New Haven Register (CT) Copyright: 2016 New Haven Register Contact: http://www.nhregister.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/292 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n191/a03.html Author: Stan White NO "SANE OR MORAL" REASON TO PROHIBIT POT With millions of people in line who can hardly wait to pay taxes, the dollar amount Connecticut could collect by regulating cannabis (marijuana) may be greater than anticipated (Think Green: Here's An Easy Way to Cut Our State's Deficit, Mar. 25, 2016). As Oregon's Mail Tribune newspaper reported (First Pot Tax Collections Higher Than Expected, March 26, 2016), the Oregon Department of Revenue collected $3.8 million in taxes from cannabis sales in January, which in that one month, was equal to what experts were expecting for the entire year. It's a lot to take in, not just in dollars, the article further points out; pot consumers are turning to licensed locations and not the black market. And a note to Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals: even government quit using the discredited "gateway" theory years ago, however, supporting the myth that heroin is no worse than cannabis (the Schedule I lie) does increase heroin addiction and death rates. As does forcing cannabis consumers into the black market. A sane or moral argument to perpetuate cannabis prohibition doesn't exist. - - Stan White Dillon, Colorado - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom