Ecstasy is the latest synthetic drug to make headlines, but it won't
be the last.

Current drug policy is a gateway drug policy. As the most popular
illicit drug, marijuana provides the black market connections that
introduce drug users to harder drugs like ecstasy.

While there is nothing inherent in the marijuana plant that compels
users to try harder drugs, its black market status puts users in
contact with criminals who sell hard drugs.

While a liquor store will refuse to sell alcohol to a minor, a drug
dealer will sell to anyone. As long as marijuana remains illegal, the
established criminal distribution network will ensure that America's
children can sample every new poison concocted by drug pushers.

Given that marijuana is increasingly recognized as being safer than
alcohol or tobacco (it is impossible to die from a marijuana
overdose), why not end marijuana prohibition?

Robert Sharpe
Washington, D.C.