MARIJUANA USE IS SAFER

Assuming Texas legislators wary of medical marijuana legislation are sincere
about protecting children from drugs, they might want to rethink their
opposition to drug-policy reform.

Not only should medical marijuana be made available, but adult recreational
use should be regulated, as well.

The reason is simple: Leaving the distribution of recreational drugs in the
hands of organized crime puts children at a great risk. The thriving black
market on drugs is very much youth-oriented.

The United States could learn from the Dutch. Despite dramatically lower per
capita spending on drugs, the Netherlands has successfully reduced overall
drug use by replacing marijuana prohibition with regulation.

As the most popular illicit drug in America, marijuana provides the black
market contacts that introduce users to hard drugs. Given that it is
arguably safer than alcohol, it makes no sense to perpetuate policies that
finance organized crime and facilitate the use of drugs such as heroin.

And as for medical marijuana, doctors should decide what's best for their
patients -- not the politicians.

Robert Sharpe,
Drug Policy Foundation,
Washington, D.C.