Pubdate: Sat, 13 Aug 2005
Source: Erie Times-News (PA)
Copyright: 2005 Erie Times-News
Contact:  http://www.goerie.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1347
Author: Calvina Fay

FRIDAY FORUM WRITER OFF BASE WITH MARIJUANA TAX PITCH

In response to "Can't beat them? Consider marijuana tax options"
published in the Erie Times-News on July 29:

Ronald Fraser attempted to flaunt marijuana arrest statistics without
breaking them down. Proponents of drug legalization continually assert
that prisons are being jammed with first-time drug offenders, taking
up the space where the really violent prisoners should be. They claim
these victims of the drug war are being persecuted.

I encourage you to look at these numbers from the U.S. Bureau of
Justice Statistics for 2000.

A fifth of those entering state prisons were there for drug offenses.
Of those, 25 percent were convicted of possession (as opposed to
trafficking, manufacturing, etc.). That leaves only 5 percent in
prison for possession.

Only 13 percent of that 5 percent were there for marijuana possession.
Therefore, less than 1 percent of all those incarcerated in state
prisons were there for marijuana possession. The federal prison rate
is even lower.

Now that I have cleared up Fraser's prison fallacy, I'd like to move
on to the more important issue at hand: marijuana abuse among teens.

Does Fraser think that if we legalize marijuana the number of
juveniles using the drug will decrease?

Between 1999 and 2001, marijuana use by juveniles increased 3.2
percent nationwide. This national average is far exceeded in states
that have legalized marijuana as a socalled medicine. California and
Colorado had an increase that was double the national rate, Hawaii had
quadruple the rate and Maine experienced a 54.4 percent increase.

I commend Fraser for an accurate statement about the cost, $41
billion. Unfortunately, the cost in human suffering is beyond measure.

I can't say whether legalizing marijuana would cut costs for society
or not, but as a drug policy and prevention expert with more than 20
years in the field, I can assure you legalizing marijuana will cost
lives.

Calvina Fay

executive director

Drug-Free America Foundation

St. Petersburg, Fla
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin