Pubdate: Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Source: News & Observer (Raleigh, NC)
Copyright: 2014 The News and Observer Publishing Company
Contact: http://www.newsobserver.com/about/newsroom/editor/
Website: http://www.newsobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/304
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n235/a04.html

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Regarding Ned Barnett's March 9 column "When might N.C. go to pot?":
The sooner the better.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as
criminals control marijuana distribution, consumers will come into
contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine and heroin.

Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy. Marijuana is less
harmful than legal alcohol. The plant has never been shown to cause an
overdose death. It makes no sense to waste tax dollars on failed
marijuana policies that finance violent drug cartels and facilitate
the use of hard drugs.

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

ROBERT SHARPE

MPA POLICY ANALYST, COMMON SENSE FOR DRUG POLICY

WASHINGTON, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Matt