Pubdate: Fri, 26 Jul 2013
Source: Prince George Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Prince George Citizen
Contact:  http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/350
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n344/a02.html

REGULATED MARKET FOR MARIJUANA NEEDED

Regarding Neil Godbout's July 17 editorial, there is a big difference 
between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from drugs.

Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana and 
frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal records. 
What's really needed is a regulated market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as 
organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers will 
continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine 
and heroin.

This gateway is a direct result of marijuana prohibition.

Marijuana is less harmful than legal alcohol. The plant has never 
been shown to cause an overdose death. It makes no sense to waste tax 
dollars on failed marijuana policies that finance organized crime and 
facilitate the use of hard drugs. Drug policy reform may send the 
wrong message to children, but I like to think the children are more 
important than the message.

Robert Sharpe, MPA Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, DC
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom