Pubdate: Wed, 13 Aug 2014
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n657/a02.html

PROHIBITION MAKES MARIJUANA HARMFUL

Re: "Don't pretend pot is harmless," editorial, Aug 9.

Marijuana can be harmful if abused.

Criminal records are nonetheless inappropriate as health 
interventions and ineffective as deterrents to marijuana use.

Marijuana prohibition does not make the plant any safer. Prohibition 
compounds the dangers of marijuana by granting a monopoly on 
marijuana distribution to drug cartels that sell methamphetamine, 
cocaine and heroin. Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy.

It's time for politicians to stop confusing the drug war's tremendous 
collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant.

Robert Sharpe

Policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom