Pubdate: Sun, 23 Sep 2012
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2012 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n459/a01.html
Author: Robert Sharpe

Re: "Let's have a real pot debate," Sept. 16 Curtis Hubbard column.

LEGALIZATION AND THE SOCIAL REALITY OF MARIJUANA

Gov. John Hickenlooper needs to prioritize children over political 
messaging. There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use 
and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges 
the social reality of marijuana and frees users from the stigma of 
life-shattering criminal records. What's really needed is a regulated 
market with age controls as provided for by Amendment 64. Separating 
the hard and soft drug markets is critical.

The marijuana plant is relatively harmless compared to legal drugs 
like alcohol or tobacco. Marijuana prohibition, however, is deadly. 
As long as organized crime controls distribution, marijuana consumers 
will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine, meth 
and heroin.

Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like 
to think the children are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe,

Arlington, Va. The writer is a policy analyst for Common Sense for Drug Policy.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom