Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jul 2013
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2013 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n362/a08.html

REGULATING MARIJUANA

Regarding your July 27 editorial Trudeau scores, Liberal Leader 
Justin Trudeau is to be commended for coming out strongly against 
marijuana prohibition. 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 the stigma of criminal records. What's really needed 
is a regulated market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as 
organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers will 
continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine 
and heroin. This gateway is a direct result of marijuana prohibition.

Marijuana is less harmful than legal alcohol. The plant has never 
been shown to cause an overdose death. It makes no sense to waste tax 
dollars on failed marijuana policies that finance organized crime and 
facilitate the use of hard drugs. Drug policy reform may send the 
wrong message to children, but I like to think the children are more 
important than the message.

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