REGULATE MARIJUANA

Regarding the article on medical marijuana (Register-Guard, Feb. 4), the
plant has been used medicinally for thousands of years.

In 1999, a government-commissioned Institute of Medicine report concluded
that there are limited circumstances in which smoking marijuana for medical
uses is recommended.

Marijuana is one of the most studied plants around. Nonetheless, entrenched
interests riding the drug war gravy train continue to claim that further
research is needed. Not only should medical marijuana be made available, but
adult recreational use should be regulated as well. The reason for this is
simple: Leaving the distribution of popular recreational drugs in the hands
of organized crime puts children at great risk. Illegal drug dealers don't
ID for age, but they do push profitable, addictive drugs such as heroin.
Sensible regulation is desperately needed to undermine the youth-oriented
black market and restrict access to drugs.

Marijuana is the most popular illicit drug. Compared to legal alcohol,
marijuana is relatively harmless, yet marijuana prohibition is deadly.
Although there is nothing inherent in marijuana that compels users to use
harder drugs, its black-market status puts them in contact with criminals
who push them. Current drug policy is effectively a gateway policy.
Replacing marijuana prohibition with regulation would ultimately do a better
job protecting children than the failed drug war. As for medical marijuana,
doctors should decide what is best for patients, not drug warriors.

Robert Sharpe, Program Officer

Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation

Washington, D.C.