Pubdate: Thu, 31 Oct 2013
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2013 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Sean Tully
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n519/a11.html

LEAVE MARIJUANA POLICY TO THE STATES

U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar highlights the dilemma our nation 
finds itself in as states begin to implement a patchwork of laws 
legalizing or decriminalizing the distribution and possession of 
marijuana while it remains illegal at the national level ("Drug crime 
policy in flux, Oct 26).

On the one hand, the use of marijuana is not as serious as many other 
drugs, including, I would argue, alcohol or tobacco. But the illegal 
distribution of marijuana often leads to violence and endangers the 
lives of law enforcement officers from our borders to our cities.

The only solution to the problem that I can see, especially 
considering the changing attitude Americans have toward marijuana, is 
for the federal government to legalize the distribution and use of 
the drug and allow each state to determine how to comply.

Sean Tully, Baltimore
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom