Pubdate: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 Source: Salinas Californian, The (CA) Copyright: 2011 Stan White Contact: http://www.thecalifornian.com/section/CUSTOMERSERVICE03 Website: http://www.thecalifornian.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3900 Author: Stan White Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n699/a07.html NO NEEDLESS POT LAWS, NO UNNECESSARY DRUG CRIME Conveniently the FBI's 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment (Monterey County Sees Gang Threat Growing in Different Ways, Dec. 9, 2011), reported how drugs are related to crime rather than the war on drugs. Homicide rates decreased for 10 years after ending the original prohibition with alcohol and there's reason to believe ending the sequel will have the same results. The U.S. desperately needs credible drug law reform and at the very minimum that means RE-legalizing and regulating the extremely popular, relatively safe, God-given plant (see the very 1st page of the Bible) cannabis (marijuana). Ending cannabis prohibition, persecution, discrimination and extermination would also lower hard drug addiction rates and help reduce gang and cartel activity, but the FBI, DEA, CIA, ATF and FDA etc. doesn't report that. Stan White Dillon, Colo. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D