Pubdate: Thu, 22 May 2014
Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Peace Arch News
Contact:  http://www.peacearchnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333
Author: Brian Marlatt

LEGALIZATION NO GUARANTEE

Editor:

Marijuana for non-medical use is illegal everywhere in the U.S.

It will be interesting to watch how U.S. lawmakers and law enforcement
deal in the longer term with the conflict between U.S. law and limited
state legislation allowing personal use and commercial outlets.

This is especially a matter of concern near border crossings into
Canada.

We have learned from the president of the Canadian Medical Association
that unproven claims of medical value for marijuana are a concern
where used as a ploy to justify non-medical use. "Medical marijuana if
necessary, but not necessarily medical marijuana" applies perhaps, but
care is needed to avoid misleading legalization advocacy.

Will the relaxation of state laws allowing marijuana possession in
certain circumstances contrary to U.S. federal laws and
commercialization lead to new and increased border crimes and
trafficking? This has been the experience in the Netherlands where the
marijuana drug trafficking crimes moved out of the Amsterdam Red Light
District marijuana cafes legalized in 1976 to other communities and to
the borders. Today, Dutch border concerns and social problems related
to drug abuse are cited as reasons to reconsider.

We should be cautious about advocates who claim street drug prices and
trafficking will or has collapsed in Washington state, or if
legalization occurs simply because they say so. Illegal drugs carry
none of the costs of commercial sourcing, from fire safety to quality
control, to fair wages and business licenses, to buying electricity,
packaging and, most costly for any commercial enterprise consumable
from tooth paste to beer, marketing. Trafficking may flourish under
legalization.

Before the dreaded words "prohibition" and "alcohol" are uttered, let
us remember the violence and crimes of Al Capone were supplied by
legal, regulated, taxed commercial beer and liquor smuggled into the
U.S., not bath-tub gin. "Legalize, regulate, tax" is a slogan too, not
policy or a basis for good public policy.

Brian Marlatt, White Rock
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MAP posted-by: Matt