Pubdate: Mon, 22 Jun 2015
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Robert Sharpe
Page: A8
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n323/a08.html

REGULATE, TAX POT

Re: Petty politics demean Tories - June 13

Not only should medical marijuana be made available in all forms to 
patients in need, but all adult marijuana use should be legal, taxed 
and regulated.

Drug policies modelled after alcohol prohibition have given rise to a 
youth-oriented black market. Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, 
but they do recruit minors immune to adult sentences.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit 
the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only 
increases the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs 
like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to 
increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war 
doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a 
cost-effective alternative to never-ending drug war.

As long as marijuana distribution is controlled by organized crime, 
consumers will continue to come into contact with hard drugs like 
methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.

Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy.

Robert Sharpe Policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy 
(www.csdp.org) Arlington, Va.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom