Pot times
Drug Policy Reform Needed
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1095/a04.htmlNewshawk: Humphrey Ploughjogger http://www.MassCann.org
Pubdate: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 DRUG POLICY REFORM NEEDED
Source: Metrowest Daily News (MA)
Copyright: 2005 MetroWest Daily News
Contact:
mdnletters@cnc.com
Website: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/619
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1021/a02.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm
(Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm
(Decrim/Legalization)
There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting
children from drugs ( "Time for serious talk about pot," June 25 ).
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 marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized crime,
consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like
heroin.
This "gateway" is the direct result of a fundamentally flawed policy.
Given that marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol -- the plant has never
been shown to cause an overdose death -- it makes no sense to waste tax dollars
on failed 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 Common Sense for Drug Policy
Washington, DC
