Pubdate: Sun, 18 Aug 2013
Source: Merced Sun-Star (CA)
Copyright: 2013 Merced Sun-Star
Contact: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/284
Website: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2546
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n378/a01.html

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA USE WOULD BE A BENEFIT

Regarding your Aug. 3 editorial, if marijuana were fully legal there 
would be no backyard or back country growers using medical marijuana 
as a ruse to make money.

Legitimate farmers would produce it by the ton at a fraction of the 
current cost. You don't see Mexican drug cartels sneaking into 
national forests to cultivate tomatoes and cucumbers. They cannot 
compete with a legal market.

Marijuana prohibition is a complete failure. The United States has 
double the rate of marijuana use as the Netherlands where it is 
legally available.

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.

This country can no longer afford to subsidize the prejudices of 
culture warriors. It's time to stop the arrests and instead tax legal 
marijuana.

ROBERT SHARPE, MPA Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Arlington, VA
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom