MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION NOT JUST FOR GENERATING REVENUE

Children Are More Important

Regarding Danny Westneat's April 3 column, marijuana legalization is
not just about generating revenue ["A bad bet: State funds from sin,"
NWSunday, April 3]. 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 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
criminals control marijuana distribution, consumers will come into
contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine and heroin.

This "gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition.
Marijuana-law 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 for Common Sense for Drug Policy,
Washington, D.C