Pubdate: Wed, 19 Feb 1997
Source: Wenatchee World (WA)
Author: Tom Hawkins

Reducing the harms associated with drug use in America should be a high
priority. There are many things we as a society can to do help reduce these
harms. Among them:

End the practice of making criminals of medical patients who can
benefit from marijuana.  Do we expect sick people in America to suffer to
further our failed Prohibition policies?

Establish a system modeled after our current alcohol regulations
which will inhibit minors from obtaining marijuana.  Drug dealers who are
given the control under Prohibition have no qualms about sales to minors.
Those with business licenses to sell these products would have them.

Eliminate the billions of our tax dollars being wasted yearly
hunting down and arresting productive, adult citizens who chose to use
marijuana for recreation.  Many important government programs which are
failing due to lack of funding could benefit from that money.  Social
Security, for example.  Make it possible for adults who chose to use
marijuana to have a regulated source which would insure quality and purity
of the marijuana they consume.  Black market marijuana may contain
impurities which may pose a hazard to those who use it, i.e. contamination
by pesticides or fungus.

Tax and regulate marijuana use, thereby strengthening America's
weakening tax base instead of lining the pockets of gangsters.  This would
take power away from dangerous gangs who are making our streets and our
homes unsafe.

It's time we abandon our current system of Prohibition which is
failing our
nation and start concentrating on those things we can do to make positive
changes in our society.  Let's reduce the harms associated with drug use in
America before it's too late.

Tom Hawkins
Grand Coulee, WA