Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jun 2016
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2016 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: Sonia Martinez
Note: Sonia Martinez is in private practice and a member and past 
co-chair of the Arizona State Bar Committee on Minorities and Women 
in the Law. She's also the mother of daughters ages 19 and 10.

POT PROHIBITIONISTS USE SCARE TACTICS

I was disappointed to read last month's column from usually sensible 
and forward-thinking Laurie Roberts ("$113 million for legalizing 
pot? Sorry, I'm not sold").

She dismissed the $113 million in tax revenue this state could 
benefit from if voters pass the proposed initiative to regulate 
marijuana this November. What's holding her and many opponents back? 
Misinformation, a lack of information, and politics. In other words: 
"reefer madness."

As a parent and law professional, I am concerned that the 
conversation on marijuana is more about political gains and less 
about the safety of our communities and children. Clearly, Roberts 
and the local prohibition advocates are held up by anti-marijuana 
sentiments, but Arizona voters should look past their scare tactics 
by getting the proper and right information they need to make an 
informed and intelligent decision.

1. Illegal dealers don't ask for ID. Prohibition has failed for 
decades at keeping marijuana away from teens. So why are we not doing 
something about it?

Colorado schools continue to report increases in high school 
graduation rates and decreases in drop-out rates every year since 
2010. Last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a study 
showing no increase in teens' access in Washington state since its 
law passed in 2012.

The proposed law in Arizona would put marijuana behind a counter, 
with strict age restrictions and packaging standards.

2. Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol by every objective measure, 
and as much as opponents don't like to hear it, it's the truth. While 
thousands of deaths are attributed to alcohol each year, nobody dies 
from marijuana use. In fact, there has never been a documented case 
of an individual dying from a marijuana overdose.

A study published in Scientific Reports in January 2015 found that 
the mortality risk associated with marijuana was approximately 114 
times less than that of alcohol. Now doctors across the country, 
including a former surgeon general, are supporting marijuana 
regulation in the interest of public health.

3. By keeping marijuana in prohibition we guarantee sales will take 
place underground, to the benefit of cartels and street-level drug 
dealers. Our state is denied economic growth and millions of dollars 
in tax revenue. What is the cost of government being our nanny?

In 2015, Colorado had about $1 billion in legal sales that produced 
over $135 million in tax revenue for their state. Now, our neighbors 
to the north are allocating millions in new revenue toward education 
and health rather than enriching criminals. Prohibition costs us the 
opportunity to grow our economy and more adequately protect our teens.

4. Roberts fears she may smell marijuana being smoked in her 
neighbor's backyard. Here's hoping her neighbors don't barbecue on 
nice evenings. This is no excuse to punish responsible adults for 
consuming marijuana. You know what I want less of in my backyard? 
Illegal drug dealers fueled by marijuana prohibition. Let's put them 
out of business.

Even after the passage of Proposition 123, Arizona ranks near the 
bottom of education funding among the 50 states. I don't know if Ms. 
Roberts has any children in school. She might think $113 million is 
chump change. But for schools, which would get the majority of the 
money from legal marijuana sales, it's a huge boost.

I urge Ms. Roberts to re-examine her opposition to allowing adults to 
safely purchase and use marijuana. I urge Arizona voters to do the 
right thing. Our country rightly ended alcohol prohibition nearly a 
century ago, and marijuana prohibition should see the same fate.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom