Pubdate: Sun, 23 Aug 2015
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2015 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Marc Fein

TAX PROJECTION MAY BE WRONG, BUT GOOD CASE REMAINS FOR LEGAL POT

The Arizona Republic's Friday editorial questioning 
marijuana-legalization proponents' claim that $40 million would go to 
schools may be correct. There are other factors that should be considered.

In the same issue it was reported that DPS apprehend smugglers on 
I-17 and I-40 and recovered primarily marijuana. These smugglers are 
likely bound for an Arizona prison at an absurd expense. Additional 
expenses include the resources expended on the officer's time, the 
prosecutors and the courts. Avoiding these expenses would free up 
money for schools

Police efforts to combat marijuana are contributing to the heavy 
police presence in inner city neighborhoods, resulting in the 
shootings causing so much societal discord. (To be fair, there are 
the other drugs to consider.)

Some years back a Mesa undercover officer was killed during a 
marijuana buy and bust gone bad in Tempe. A dead, brave officer over 
marijuana, such a shame.

Huge sums of money are going to the worst people in society, willing 
to kill at any moment. Let us take a closer look at what we are 
allowing to go on and compare it to a different approach that may 
work instead of continuing the demonstrable failure that the current 
War on Drugs has been.

- - Marc Fein

Fountain Hills
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom