Pubdate: Mon, 24 Dec 2012
Source: Metrowest Daily News (MA)
Copyright: 2012 MetroWest Daily News
Contact:  http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/619
Author: Robert Sharpe

MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS A FAILURE

Regarding Richard M. Evans' Dec. 16 oped ("Marijuana: What next?"), the
voters of Colorado and Washington state have made it clear the federal
government can no longer get away with confusing the drug war's
collateral damage with a comparatively harmless plant. If the goal of
marijuana prohibition is to subsidize violent drug cartels, prohibition
is a success. The drug war distorts supply and demand dynamics so that
big money grows on little trees.

If the goal of marijuana prohibition is to deter use, prohibition is a
failure. The United States has double the rate of marijuana use as the
Netherlands, where marijuana is legal. 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. It's time to stop the
arrests and instead tax legal marijuana.

ROBERT SHARPE

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC
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MAP posted-by: Matt