EXPAND ACCESSIBILITY OF MARIJUANA

Regarding Contributing Editor James Ahearn's "N.J. prepares for
medical pot" (Opinion, Page O-2, June 13):

Not only should medical marijuana be made available to patients in
need, but adult recreational use should be regulated. 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 children.

Throwing more money at the problem is no solution. Attempts to limit
the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only
increase the profitability of drug trafficking.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a
cost-effective alternative to a never-ending drug war. As long as
marijuana distribution is controlled by organized crime, consumers
will continue to come into contact with hard drugs like cocaine and
heroin. This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana
prohibition.

Robert Sharpe

Arlington, Va., June 13

The writer is a policy analyst for Common Sense for Drug Policy, a
Washington-based advocacy group.