LEGALIZING POT A BAD IDEA

For those getting on the marijuana legalization bandwagon, I would
like to suggest the consideration of unintended consequences of
legalizing this insidious social drug ("Plans to legalize pot," Our
View, June 21).

In 1919 the U.S. Congress prohibited the production, distribution, and
sales of alcoholic beverages - i.e., Prohibition. But Congress later
reversed itself with legislation in 1933 that made it legal to produce
and sell alcoholic beverages. In so doing it also eliminated the
income of criminals that bootlegged alcohol. In order to make a living
gangsters continued their illegal activities and just switched their
marketing tactics from alcohol to other drugs, prostitution, loan
sharking, etc. At least their target market was still adults.

I submit that should marijuana become legal today the illegal
producers will only switch their activities to other, harder drugs and
softer customers. Criminals that lose their income are not going to
suddenly start flipping burgers at your local fast-food restaurant.

They are going to start marketing to a different customer at a greater
social cost. Their new customers will likely be children.

If pot is legalized, should we also legalize cocaine, heroin, ecstasy,
meth, and other drugs? Of course not.

Some have said "Pot is a social drug with very little negative
effects." Studies have shown over and over again the damage done by
smoking marijuana: physically, mentally and socially.

I say keep marijuana illegal. I know the arguments for legalization. I
just don't buy them and I don't believe the arguments have been well
thought out. Supporters just want their pot legally without thinking
about the unintended consequences.

Steve Sinn
Manitou Springs