DRUG POLICIES VS. MARIJUANA

Regarding Bob Roegner's March 21 column ("Federal Way must discuss
medical marijuana"), 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 the 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.

For addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads
desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate
habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a
cost-effective alternative to the 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
methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. This "gateway" is a direct result
of marijuana prohibition.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

(Washington, D.C.)