Pubdate: Tue, 09 Feb 2016
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2016 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact: http://www.citizen-times.com/contact/letters.shtml
Website: http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: George Fraley

TIME FOR N.C. TO END THE PROHIBITION ON CANNABIS?

It's reported our teachers are underpaid and other state employees 
are having issues with pay and health insurance.

Of course, Raleigh is bemoaning a lack of funds.

Let's see... we all want better paying jobs, better health care, 
better education - hey, I've got an idea; maybe it's time for N.C. to 
end the prohibition on cannabis.

While legalization may produce some challenges in the future, the 
problems with keeping pot illegal - the racial disparities in 
pot-related arrests and the black market that funds criminal groups 
around the world for instance are far, far worse.

The war on pot has cost the U.S. billions of dollars over decades and 
contributed to the explosive growth of America's incarcerated 
population, which is now the largest in the world; yet millions of 
people still use marijuana - a drug that most Americans view as 
relatively safe. According to the Marijuana Policy Project, our 
discussions should not be about whether or not to legalize cannabis 
but how to do it right.

Let's stop being hypocrites and end the prohibition, treat it like 
alcohol and make it a state-controlled business with non-profits 
running it. Let's use the new tax revenue to increase funding of 
education and health care.

George Fraley, Fletcher
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom