Pubdate: Sat, 06 Jun 2015
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2015 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Don Carlson
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n301/a09.html

PROHIBITION TOO COSTLY FOR US ALL

Yvonne Abraham's argument for the legalization of recreational use of 
marijuana is one of the most cogent arguments I've read on any 
subject ("Marijuana is a losing battle"). I'm not a user, and I never 
have been. But I'm offended that our current prohibition generates 
income for criminal gangs, leads to targeting of black users, and 
wastes police and court resources over a substance no worse than 
alcohol or tobacco.

It's time to legalize recreational marijuana use and use some of the 
money saved for preventive education and rehabilitation, the costs of 
which surely would diminish over time. If we don't, the current 
social and financial costs will surely increase.

Don Carlson, Boston
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom