Pubdate: Sat, 27 Oct 2012
Source: Herald and News (Klamath Falls, OR)
Copyright: 2012 Herald and News
Contact:  http://www.heraldandnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2600
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n531/a08.html

PROHIBITION OF POT IS A GATEWAY POLICY

Citizens for Safe Schools makes the common mistake in its Oct. 21 
commentary of assuming that marijuana prohibition actually deters use.

The United States has higher rates of marijuana use than the 
Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. Decriminalization 
is a long overdue step in the right direction.

Taxing and regulating marijuana would render the drug war obsolete. 
As long as organized crime controls distribution, marijuana consumers 
will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like 
methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Marijuana prohibition is a 
gateway drug policy.

Some sources of information:

2008 World Health Organization survey confirming higher rates of use 
in United States: 
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050141

United Nations drug stats: http://www.unodc.org/

Comparative analysis of U.S. vs. Dutch rates of drug use: 
http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Netherlands_v_US

Marijuana arrest statistics: http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Marijuana#Total

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

www.csdp.org

P.O. Box 59181

Washington, D.C. 20012
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom