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LEGALIZE ORGANIC MARIJUANA

To the Editor:

Regarding your Aug.  30 editorial, the use of so-called synthetic marijuana is an unintended side-effect of the war on natural marijuana.  Consumers are turning to potentially toxic drugs made in China and sold as research chemicals before being repackaged as legal incense.  Expanding the drug war will only add to the highest incarceration rate in the world.  Chinese chemists will tweak formulas to stay one step ahead of the law and two steps ahead of the drug tests.  New versions won't be safer.  Misguided efforts to protect children from drugs are putting children at risk.

A better solution is to legalize organic marijuana.  Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco.  Taxing and regulating marijuana would eliminate the demand for synthetic marijuana, provide consumers with a comparatively safe alternative to alcohol, and close the gateway to hard drugs by taking marijuana distribution out of the hands of violent drug cartels.  Marijuana may be relatively harmless, but marijuana prohibition is deadly.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.

Arlington, VA.