RECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA CREATES MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR HARDER DRUGS

If Gov. Frank Murkowski signs the bill to recriminalize marijuana,
Alaska's methamphetamine problem will grow. As long as there is a
demand for marijuana, there will be a supply.

Eliminating Alaska homegrown marijuana (made possible by existing
privacy laws) only to have it replaced by international drug cartels
that also sell cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine is not necessarily
a good thing.

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and
protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the
social reality of marijuana and frees users from the stigma of
life-shattering criminal records. What's needed is a regulated market
with age controls. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical.

As long as marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized
crime, consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of
hard drugs. This "gateway" is the direct result of a fundamentally
flawed policy. 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, policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.