Pubdate: Thu, 17 Oct 2013
Source: Surrey Leader (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Surrey Leader
Contact:  http://www.surreyleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1236
Author: Robert Sharpe

POINTLESS WAR ON POT

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and
protecting children from drugs.

Decriminalization as proposed by "Sensible B.C." acknowledges the
social reality of marijuana and frees users from criminal records.

That's a step in the right direction. What's really needed is a
legally regulated market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical.

As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers
will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine, meth
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 benefit organized crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs.

Taxing and regulating marijuana may send the wrong message to
children, but I like to think the children are more important than the
message.

Robert Sharpe, Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

www.csdp.org
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MAP posted-by: Matt