Pubdate: Sat, 17 Nov 2012
Source: Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY)
Copyright: 2012 Daily Freeman
Contact:  http://www.dailyfreeman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3269
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n588/a08.html

MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS A FAILURE

Regarding your editorial (Nov. 17), the voters of Colorado and 
Washington state have made it clear the federal government can no 
longer get away with confusing the drug war's collateral damage with 
a comparatively harmless plant.

If the goal of marijuana prohibition is to subsidize violent drug 
cartels, prohibition is a success. The drug war distorts supply and 
demand dynamics so that big money grows on little trees. If the goal 
of marijuana prohibition is to deter use, prohibition is a failure.

The United States has double the rate of use as the Netherlands, 
where marijuana is legally available. The criminalization of 
Americans who prefer marijuana to martinis has no basis in science. 
The war on marijuana consumers is a failed cultural inquisition, not 
an evidence-based public health campaign. It's time to stop the 
arrests and end marijuana prohibition.

ROBERT SHARPE

Washington, D.C.

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