THE U.S. COULD LEARN FROM MEXICO'S DECRIMINALIZATION

The U.S. drug war is largely a war on marijuana smokers. There were
872,720 total marijuana arrests in 2007, almost 90% for simple
possession. At a time when state and local governments are laying off
police, firefighters and teachers, this country continues to spend
scarce public resources criminalizing Americans who prefer marijuana
to martinis.

The end result of this ongoing culture war is not necessarily lower
rates of use. The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the
Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. An admitted former
pot smoker, President Obama has thus far maintained the status quo
rather than pursue change. Would Barack Obama be in the White House if
he had been convicted of a marijuana offense as a youth?
Decriminalization is a long overdue step in the right direction.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington