MARIJUANA TALK

In the memphisflyer.com article "Marijuana Talk at Rhodes" (November
6th), it seems to me that the speaker asked the wrong question. The
question should be: Should marijuana remain completely untaxed,
unregulated, and controlled by criminals?

Because marijuana is illegal, it is sold only by criminals. And they
often offer free samples of more dangerous drugs to their marijuana
customers, thus creating the so-called gateway effect.

In a regulated market, this would not happen. Do Flyer 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, Arizona