DRUG WAR HASN'T LOWERED DRUG USE

Regarding the Desert Dispatch's thoughtful Sept. 16 editorial ("Prop.
19 a chance to help end failed drug war"), the drug war is largely a
war on marijuana smokers. In 2009, there were 858,408 marijuana
arrests in the U.S., almost 90 percent for simple possession. At a
time when state and local governments are laying off police,
firefighters and teachers, this country continues to spend enormous
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. Decriminalization is a long
overdue step in the right direction. Taxing and regulating marijuana
would render the drug war obsolete. As long as organized crime
controls distribution, marijuana consumers will come into contact
with sellers of hard drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.
This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy