Pubdate: Thu, 11 Oct 2012 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: 2012 The Vancouver Sun Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477 Author: Rob Brandreth-Gibbs Page: A16 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n503/a06.html MARIJUANA PROHIBITION SERVES SOCIETY, ESPECIALLY YOUTH Re: Pot prohibition serving only crooks, dealers, Column, Oct. 5 Barbara Yaffe writes that pot prohibition serves only crooks and dealers. It also serves the rest of our society, especially young people. Yaffe correctly states that pot prohibition drives up the price of cannabis ( as confirmed by a 2010 RAND Corporation report) but she does not go the next step. Because drug users are sensitive to price, particularly younger ones, lofty prices help keep use rates comparatively low. For proof look at alcohol and tobacco use versus marijuana. Use of the first two legal substances far surpasses use of marijuana, a solid indication that laws reduce the availability and acceptability of such substances. Legalizing marijuana would lower the price and increase its use, along with the harm it causes, thus adding to the load on our justice and health systems. Violent drug rings will undersell any legal price. Their pot will be tax-free. And they will sell substitutes as necessary. Legalization and more demand for marijuana will only add to their might and reach. To say nothing about their B. C. bud export "business." Tax marijuana? The costs to society of alcohol and tobacco are far greater than the revenue they generate through taxes. ( Marijuana contains higher levels of some toxins than found in tobacco.) If we are to err on the question of marijuana legalization, I say we err on the side of our kids and other Canadians who respect our laws. And want long, healthy lives. Rob Brandreth-Gibbs North Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Matt