Pubdate: Sun, 09 Dec 2012
Source: Tampa Bay Times (FL)
Copyright: 2012 St. Petersburg Times
Contact: http://www.sptimes.com/letters/
Website: http://www.tampabay.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/419
Note: Named the St. Petersburg Times from 1884-2011.
Author: Robert Sharpe

PROHIBITION DRIVES CRIME

If the goal of marijuana prohibition is to subsidize violent drug 
cartels, prohibition is a success. The drug war distorts supply and 
demand 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 marijuana use as 
the Netherlands, where marijuana is legal. The criminalization of 
Americans who prefer marijuana to martinis has no basis in science.

It's time to stop the arrests and instead tax legal marijuana.

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