Pubdate: Tue, 15 Jan 2013 Source: Boston Herald (MA) Copyright: 2013 The Boston Herald, Inc Contact: http://news.bostonherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53 Author: Robert Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n008/a02.html NOT 'DUMB' AT ALL As long as there is a demand for marijuana, there will be a supply ("Dumb idea No. 1," Jan. 3). Under the new Massachusetts law, it's true that healthy consumers will obtain "medical marijuana" recommendations in order to avoid purchasing pot from criminals. The medical recommendation allows consumers to purchase locally grown marijuana of known quality and safety from dispensaries that generate tax revenue. Is it somehow preferable that consumers purchase untaxed marijuana from violent drug cartels that also sell cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin? Marijuana may be relatively harmless, but marijuana prohibition is deadly. - -- Robert Sharpe, Washington, D.C. The writer is a policy analyst for Common Sense for Drug Policy. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D