LEGALIZE MARIJAUNA

For the past 20 years, The Economist, a conservative magazine, has
proposed legalizing all drugs. Drug prohibition is "intended to
reassure the parents of teenagers across the world," but overall has
been a policy failure. According to The Economist the US spends $40
billion each year on its war against drugs yet the "production of
cocaine and opium is probably the same as a decade ago; that of
cannabis (Marijuana) is higher".

It goes on to say "legalization would not only drive away the
gangsters, it would transform drugs from a law and order problem into
a public health problem, which is how it should be treated." Our
harsh laws have not prevented increasing use and criminal justice
consequences. According to Sen. Jim Webb, 47.5% of all drug arrests
in our country in 2007 were from marijuana offenses

Setting aside for now the issue of legalizing hard drugs, I would
propose legalization of marijuana as a first step. Money saved from
the criminal justice system and money gained from taxation could be
used for alcohol and drug treatment programs, including marijuana
abuse. Although the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm Administration has
not done a perfect job in preventing teenage use of alcohol and
tobacco, it could at least do a better job at control than our
criminal justice system.

I can honestly say from my 30 years in psychiatric practice, alcohol
has done more physical, family and emotional damage than has
marijuana and clearly tobacco is more addictive.

Daniel Y. Patterson MD MPH

Wilmington, NC