REGULATE MARIJUANA LIKE TOBACCO, ALCOHOL

I wanted to respond to two Nov. 15 letters that appeared in the
Kalamazoo Gazette, "Is it time to legalize marijuana?" and "Legal or
not, marijuana is used." Both letters were written by students at
Vicksburg High School.

Consistently, teenagers report that marijuana is easier for them to
buy than alcohol or tobacco. That's because those substances are sold
by licensed, regulated vendors who check identification. Marijuana is
sold by criminals. All they ask to see from our children is the cash.

We call marijuana prohibition a drug-control strategy but, in fact,
it takes all control over the manufacture, distribution and sale of
marijuana out of legitimate government oversight and instead cedes it
to criminal syndicates. Tell me again, just how is that supposed to
keep kids safe from drugs?

Teenagers should not use marijuana. The majority of those who do,
however, suffer little long-term effect. On the other hand, a
criminal record for simple use of marijuana can follow a teen for
life, branding him/her a drug criminal ineligible for financial aid
to attend college, an opportunity to serve the nation in uniform or a
chance to work in many professional fields for life. Prohibition is a
cure that is worse than the disease.

For the good of our children. Legalize, regulate, tax, control. There
is a better way.

Greg Francisco

Educators for Sensible Drug Policy

www.efsdp.org

Paw Paw