Pubdate: Thu, 17 Oct 2013
Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Peace Arch News
Contact:  http://www.peacearchnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n498/a09.html

SENSIBLE STEPS TO POLICE DRUG USE

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and
protecting children from drugs.

Decriminalization - as proposed by Sensible BC - acknowledges the
social reality of marijuana and frees users from criminal records.
That's a step in the right direction. What's really needed is a
legally regulated market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as
organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers will come
into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine, meth and heroin.
This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition.

Marijuana is less harmful than legal alcohol. The plant has never been
shown to cause an overdose death. It makes no sense to waste tax
dollars on failed marijuana policies that finance organized crime and
facilitate the use of hard drugs. Taxing and regulating marijuana 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, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Matt