Pubdate: Wed, 10 Oct 2012
Source: Sacramento Bee (CA)
Copyright: 2012 The Sacramento Bee
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/0n4cG7L1
Website: http://www.sacbee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/376
Author: Robert Sharpe

END MARIJUANA PROHIBITION

Re "Sacramento should stick with pot policy" (Editorials, Oct. 9): Not
only should medical marijuana be made available to patients in need,
but adult recreational use should be regulated. Drug policies modeled
after alcohol prohibition have given rise to a youth-oriented black
market. Illegal drug dealers don't ask for identification to determine
age, but do recruit minors immune to adult sentences. Attempts to
limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only
increase the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs
like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to
increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war
doesn't fight crime. It fuels crime. Taxing and regulating marijuana
is a cost-effective alternative to never-ending drug war. As long as
marijuana distribution is controlled by drug cartels, consumers will
continue to come into contact with hard drugs like meth and heroin.
Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy.

-- Robert Sharpe, Arlington, VA