Pubdate: Wed, 03 Oct 2012
Source: Coquitlam Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012Lower Mainland Publishing Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thenownews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1340
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n484/a10.html

GATEWAY DRUG? HOW ABOUT A GATEWAY POLICY ON MARIJUANA?

Re: "Municipal leaders show some spine," editorial, Friday, Sept. 28.

The vote by B.C. municipal leaders to decriminalize marijuana is a 
step in the right direction.

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 criminal records. What's really needed is a 
regulated market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical.

The marijuana plant is relatively harmless. Marijuana prohibition is 
deadly. As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution, 
consumers of

the most popular illicit drug will come into contact with sellers of 
hard drugs like cocaine, meth and heroin.

Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy.

Robert Sharpe Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, DC
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom