Pubdate: Tue, 11 Feb 2014
Source: Missoulian (MT)
Copyright: 2014 Missoulian
Contact:  http://www.missoulian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/720
Author: Robert Sharpe

ZERO TOLERANCE, LIFE-SHATTERING JAIL SENTENCES, A GREATER THREAT THAN 
'SOFT DRUG' MARIJUANA

Safe Community Safe Kids aren't doing Montana children any favors 
with their reefer madness revival campaign (guest column, Feb. 5). 
Zero tolerance poses a greater threat to youth than marijuana. Most 
people outgrow their youthful indiscretions involving marijuana. An 
arrest and criminal record, on the other hand, can be life-shattering.

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and 
protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the 
social reality of marijuana and frees users from the stigma of 
life-shattering criminal records. What's really needed is a regulated 
market with age controls.

Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as 
organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers will 
continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like meth, 
cocaine and heroin. This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition.

Marijuana may be relatively harmless, but marijuana prohibition is deadly.

Robert Sharpe,

Policy analyst,

Common Sense for Drug Policy,

Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom