Pubdate: Fri, 12 Jul 2013
Source: Lancaster New Era (PA)
Copyright: 2013 Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.
Contact: http://www.lancasteronline.com/pages/paper/newera/letter.php
Website: http://lancasteronline.com/pages/paper/newera/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/230
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n305/a09.html

DRUG LAWS EMPOWER THE CARTELS

TO THE EDITORS:

Regarding the New Era's June 28 editorial: If the goal of marijuana
prohibition is to subsidize violent drug cartels, prohibition is a
grand success. The drug war distorts supply and demand dynamics so
that big money grows on little trees. If the goal is to deter use,
marijuana prohibition is a catastrophic failure.

The United States has double the rate of use as the Netherlands, where
marijuana is legally available. The criminalization of Americans who
prefer marijuana to martinis has no basis in science. The war on
marijuana consumers is a failed cultural inquisition, not an
evidence-based public health campaign.

This country can no longer afford to subsidize the prejudices of
culture warriors. It's time to stop the pointless arrests and instead
tax legal marijuana.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Matt