ROADBLOCK, NOT A GATEWAY

To the Editor:

I'm writing about "Marijuana up for discussion" (Feb. 20, p. 1). The
next time a drug war cheerleader like Bob Stutman gives a speech, please
ask him why he wants marijuana to remain completely unregulated, untaxed
and controlled by criminals.

Only legal products of any kind can be regulated, taxed and controlled
by any government.

In the Czech Republic, citizens can legally grow and possess small
quantities of marijuana. The Czech overall drug arrest rate is 1 per
100,000 population. The U.S. overall drug arrest rate is 585 per
100,000 population.

The Czech robbery rate is 2 per 100,000 population. The U.S. robbery
rate is 145.9 per 100,000 population, according to the FBI.

According to our drug war cheerleaders, tolerant marijuana laws cause
people to use other, much more dangerous drugs like meth and heroin.

Obviously, this doesn't happen in the Czech Republic. Why
not?

Could it be that when people can legally obtain marijuana at an
affordable price, they tend not to use or desire any other
recreational drugs?

Could it be that marijuana legalization actually creates a roadblock
to other drug use - not a gateway?

Kirk Muse