WE NEED A RELEGATED, CONTROLLED MARIJUANA MARKET

Regarding Jon Beydler's Nov. 17 guest commentary, 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 like
cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. This "gateway" is a direct result
of marijuana prohibition.

Marijuana prohibition has failed. The U.S. 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 finance 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.