Pubdate: Tue, 02 Oct 2012
Source: Summit Daily News (CO)
Copyright: 2012 Summit Daily News
Contact: http://apps.summitdaily.com/forms/letter/index.php
Website: http://www.summitdaily.com/home.php
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/587
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n473/a01.html
Author: Robert Sharpe

NEED TO SEPARATE HARD AND SOFT DRUG MARKETS

Re: "Drug dealers protecting their turf," by David Sirota, column, Sept. 24

Former beer brewer and current hypocrite 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 alcohol,
once mass produced by Gov. Hickenlooper. 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. This "gateway" is a direct result of
marijuana prohibition. 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, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington
D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Matt