Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jun 2014
Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX)
Copyright: 2014 Austin American-Statesman
Contact:  http://www.statesman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/32
Author: Robert Sharpe

PROHIBITION ON POT NOT THE SOLUTION

Re: June 9 commentary, "Pot isn't harmless; making it legal would be a
disaster."

Calvina Fay is right about one thing. Like any drug, marijuana can be
harmful if abused. Marijuana prohibition doesn't make the plant safer
though. Prohibition opens up a gateway to hard drugs by granting a
marijuana monopoly to drug cartels that also sell meth, cocaine and
heroin. Like alcohol prohibition before it, marijuana prohibition has
given rise to a youth-oriented black market. Drug cartels don't ID for age.

Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose
death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco.

Marijuana prohibition finances organized crime and facilitates youth
access to marijuana and far more dangerous hard drugs. It's time to
close the gateway. Taxing and regulating marijuana like Colorado may
send the wrong message to children. I like to think the children are
more important than the message.

ROBERT SHARPE,

ARLINGTON, VA
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MAP posted-by: Matt