LEGALIZING DOES MAKE SENSE

To the Editor:

Taxing and regulating marijuana makes sense. Drug policies modeled
after alcohol prohibition have given rise to a youth-oriented black
market. Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but they do recruit
minors immune to adult sentences. So much for protecting the
children. Throwing more money at the problem is no solution.

Attempts to limit supply while demand remains constant only increase
the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like
heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase
criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't
fight crime, it fuels crime. Taxing and regulating marijuana is a
cost-effective alternative to continued drug war failure.

As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers
will come into contact with hard drugs. This "gateway" is a direct
result of marijuana prohibition. Drug policy reform may send the
wrong message to children, but I like to think the children are more
important than the message.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC 20012