Pubdate: Thu, 16 May 2002 Source: Valley Voice, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 The Valley Voice Contact: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1388 Note: No known website. Contact data not verified. Author: Robert Sharpe Note: Sharpe is program officer with the US Drug Policy Alliance Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) RE: DRUG CRACK DOWN SINCE NOVEMBER, RCMP NOTES MAY 2. In arguing that marijuana growing is not harmless, Sgt. Jim Reaburn confuses the [police] drug war's collateral damage with marijuana. Hazardous marijuana grow operations are a direct result of marijuana prohibition, not the marijuana plant. Legitimate farmers do not steal electricity to grow produce in the basement of rented homes, If legal, growing marijuana would be less profitable than farming tomatoes. As it stands, the drug war distorts market forces such that an easily grown weed is literally worth its weight in gold. Rather than continue to subsidize organized crime and put neighbourhoods at risk of fire, policymakers should consider taxing and regulating the sale of marijuana to adults. There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana use and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal records. What's really needed is a regulated market with age controls. Right now kids have an easier time buying pot than beer. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. Marijuana may be relatively harmless compared to legal alcohol - pot has never been shown to cause an overdose death - but marijuana prohibition is deadly. As long as marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized crime, consumers will continue to come into contact with harder drugs. Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like to think the children themselves are more important than the message. Robert Sharpe, Washington, DC - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager