Pubdate: Mon, 12 May 2014
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2014 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n403/a06.html

MOVE TOWARD MARIJUANA AS A LEGAL AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY

Our federal government continues to treat marijuana like Kryptonite
("Bureau of Reclamation should not restrict water to Eastern
Washington marijuana farms," Opinion, May 4). They are not alone.

Washington state's rollout of marijuana legalization has been
hampered by a similar mindset. One day marijuana will be fully legal
nationwide and there will be no suburban basement grows with massive
carbon footprints. Environmentally destructive backcountry grows would
become a thing of the past. These are vestiges of marijuana prohibition.

One day legitimate farmers will produce marijuana by the ton under
natural sunlight. It will be virtually worthless. This is important.
Financial incentives drive destructive cultivation practices. Mexican
drug cartels don't sneak into national forests to cultivate cucumbers
and tomatoes.

They cannot compete with farmers. The sooner the federal government
allows states to treat the marijuana plant as a legal agricultural
commodity, the better.

Robert Sharpe, policy analyst at the Common Sense for Drug Policy,
Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Matt