Pubdate: Sat, 05 Dec 2009
Source: Tennessean, The (Nashville, TN)
Copyright: 2009 The Tennessean
Contact: http://www.tennessean.com/SITES/OPINION/submit-editor.shtml
Website: http://www.tennessean.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447
Author: Don McMunn

TIME TO LEGALIZE AND TAX MARIJUANA

Our state tax monies need to be used to prosecute  violent crime, not
punish medical marijuana users. Over  500 deaths are reported each
year from Tylenol  overdose, but marijuana has never been listed as
the  medical cause of an overdose death.

Can we not legalize, tax and control medical marijuana  production and
distribution as a means of taking the  violence out of its production
and distribution while  generating millions in tax revenue for a
struggling  state?

We need to deal with the illegal production, sale and  consumption of
marijuana as being one of social  significance. As a society, we must
focus our dwindling  police resources on preventing violent crimes
instead  of clogging the court systems with simple cases of
possession of marijuana, which takes valuable officers  out of the
field and reduces the force desperately  needed to prevent more
violent crimes.

Don McMunn,

PLEASANT VIEW 37146 
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