Pubdate: Wed, 15 Jan 2014
Source: Delaware County Daily Times (PA)
Copyright: 2014 Robert Sharpe
Contact:  http://www.delcotimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1284
Author: Robert Sharpe

TIME TO TAX LEGAL MARIJUANA AND END ERA OF POINTLESS ARRESTS

To the Times:

The days when politicians can get away with confusing the drug war's
tremendous collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant are
coming to an end. If the goal of marijuana prohibition is to subsidize
violent drug cartels, prohibition is a grand success.

The drug war distorts supply and demand dynamics so that big money
grows on little trees. If the goal is to deter use, marijuana
prohibition is a catastrophic failure.

The United States has almost double the rate of marijuana use as the
Netherlands where marijuana is legal. The criminalization of Americans
who prefer marijuana to martinis has no basis in science.

The war on marijuana consumers is a failed cultural inquisition, not
an evidence-based public health campaign. Not just in Washington and
Colorado but throughout the nation, it's time to stop the pointless
arrests and instead tax legal marijuana.

ROBERT SHARPE, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D