TIME TO RETHINK MARIJUANA LAWS

How does a plant become $4,000? The answer is marijuana
prohibition.

The illicit nature of cannabis makes the profits exceptionally
attractive, ensuring that criminal gangs and drug dealers take extreme
measures to make their money.

The only way to end the criminal association with marijuana
cultivation and reclaim our national parks is to bring the drug under
government control. This can only be achieved by legalizing cannabis
to some degree, adding appropriate government regulation. With this
regulation, cultivators will be forced to comply with environmental
laws and safety standards, making all of us safer.

If we continue to pursue these criminals with law enforcement
techniques, the increased risk will only increase the price of
marijuana, creating more lucrative profits for producers and thus
increased incentives to make a business out of it.

Andy Garofalo

Burbank