IT'S AN ISSUE OF PROTECTING CHILDREN

REGARDING KEVIN Cullen's Oct. 12 Metro column "Smoking, guns": 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
really needed is a regulated market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as organized
crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers will continue to come into
contact with sellers of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin. This gateway
is a direct result of marijuana prohibition.

Marijuana prohibition has failed. The United States has higher rates of
marijuana use than the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available.
It makes no sense to waste tax dollars on failed marijuana policies that
boost the finances of organized crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs.

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

Arlington, Va.