Pubdate: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 Source: Las Vegas City Life (NV) Copyright: 2002sLas Vegas City Life Contact: http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1653 Author: Mike Plylar Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?162 (Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?163 (Question 9 (NV)) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1865/a03.html ASK YOURSELF WHO POT PROHIBITION TRULY BENEFITS Regarding the letter "Keep pot illegal for the sake of our kids" [Oct. 3]: One question notably absent in the marijuana debate in Nevada is which side garners the support of the black market pot purveyors? Do they favor the current policy where their massive profits go untaxed, their goods unregulated and their market virtually unimpeded by any governmental authority. Or would they support a system with tariffs, regulatory controls and restrictions limiting their clientele to adults over 21 years of age? The current scheme appears to form a lucrative, symbiotic relationship between illegal drug marketers and the drug warriors who purport to pursue them - both reaping hundreds of billions of dollars in profits and income, with taxpayers, pot users and our Constitution and Bill of Rights clearly the victims of this cash bonanza. Shouldn't all Americans be asking: Who does marijuana prohibition truly benefit and what does our tax dollar buy us? Mike Plylar Libertarian candidate Colorado House of Representatives Kremmling, Colo. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex