REGULATE, TAX MARIJUANA

I'm writing about Sandra S. Bennett's not-so-thoughtful Oct. 16
letter: "Marijuana is dangerous."

If Bennett thinks marijuana is so dangerous, why do she and other
drug war cheerleaders want 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.

Because marijuana is now illegal, it is sold only by criminals
(criminals who often sell other much more dangerous drugs like
cocaine and methamphetamine). And they often offer free samples of
the more dangerous drugs to their marijuana customers, creating the
so-called "gateway effect."

In a regulated market, this would not happen. Do the readers know of
anyone who has been offered a free bottle of whiskey, rum or vodka
when legally buying beer or wine? I don't either.

If we regulate, control and tax the sale and production of marijuana
we close the gateway to hard drugs.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.