NOT BLOWING SMOKE: CHANGE LAWS ON POT

Not only is marijuana prohibition a failure (Editorial, March 6),
California has proved that by conducting, in effect, a massive,
controlled experiment. Our state is a leading producer of two
psychoactive drugs, wine and marijuana. Wine is regulated and taxed,
produced and sold by licensed businesses. Marijuana has actually
become a larger industry despite billions spent to "eradicate" it, an
industry run by unregulated criminals in the underground economy.

The legal industry produces tax revenue, tourism and prestige for our
state. Its participants obey labor laws, environmental laws and all
sorts of rules specific to alcoholic beverages. The underground
industry obeys no rules, pays no taxes and funds violent criminals
who also trade in meth and other dangerous substances.

Which system works better?

Bruce Mirken

Director of communications Marijuana Policy Project Washington, D.C.