Pubdate: Tue, 16 Sep 2008
Source: USA Today (US)
Page: 10A
Copyright: 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc
Contact:  http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/466
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n856/a06.html

PROHIBITION PUSHES MARIJUANA CROP ONTO PARKLAND

Until Congress comes to its senses and ends the war on Americans who 
prefer marijuana to martinis, pot will continue to be grown on public 
lands ("80% of pot crop invades parkland," News, Friday).

Drug war distortion of supply and demand causes big money to be grown 
on little trees. Civil asset forfeiture laws create disincentives for 
personal-use cultivation in private homes. All this benefits 
international drug cartels. The big losers in this battle are the taxpayers.

Marijuana prohibition has failed miserably as a deterrent.

U.S. rates of marijuana use are higher than in any European country. 
That includes countries such as the Netherlands that have 
decriminalized marijuana. Marijuana prohibition not only criminalizes 
citizens who choose a recreational drug that is arguably safer than 
legal alcohol, but it also creates a gateway to hard drugs.

As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers 
will come into contact with addictive drugs such as methamphetamine 
and cocaine. Marijuana might be relatively harmless, but marijuana 
prohibition is deadly.

Robert Sharpe, policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom