Pubdate: Wed, 06 Sep 2000
Source: Village Voice (NY)
Copyright: 2000 VV Publishing Corporation
Contact:  36 Cooper Square, New York, NY 10003
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Website: http://www.villagevoice.com/
Author: Robert Sharpe
Note: additional letters from Robert Sharpe are available at 
http://www.mapinc.org/authors/Sharpe+Robert
Bookmark: additional articles on cannabis are available at 
http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm

GRASS WARFARE

Kudos to Adamma Ince for her article "Greener Pastures" [Back to School 
Supplement, August 29]. It highlighted the greatest failure of the United 
States' War on Drugs: Kids have an easier time buying illegal drugs than 
beer. Unless I'm mistaken, New York's drug delivery services do not ID 
students for age. Let's not kid ourselves--marijuana laws protect law 
enforcement jobs and political careers, not children. Marijuana prohibition 
is no more effective at preventing use than alcohol prohibition was at 
preventing drinking.

There is nothing inherent in marijuana that compels users to try harder 
drugs. But its black-market status puts users in contact with criminals who 
push stronger substances. Current drug policy is the gateway to other 
drugs--not marijuana use.

Critics say legalizing marijuana for adults will send the wrong message to 
children, but I think that the children are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Washington, D.C
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