Pubdate: Wed, 04 Dec 2013
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2013 Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198
Author: Nora Olabi
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n573/a05.html
Page: B6

LEGALIZE IT

Regarding "'Nasty stuff' opens new drug war front" (Page A1, Sunday),
reporter Dane Schiller barely scratched the surface on the bigger
picture: legalization of marijuana.

The market for the new, technically lawful synthetic cannabinoids will
only continue to boom as dealers find legitimate ways to maneuver
around legal obstacles.

With the criminalization and crackdown of marijuana in the past
decades, users are being pushed to find other substances.

Instead of overwhelming the prison system with minor drug abuses,
especially with regard to marijuana, more needs to be done to move
toward legalization. Otherwise, there will only be more Emily Bauers.

Nora Olabi, Houston
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MAP posted-by: Matt