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 - --- MAP posted-by: Matt