DRUG WAR FUELS CRIME

Regarding Jan Rosenthal Townsend's Jan. 2 op-ed, 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. The drug war doesn't
fight crime; it fuels crime.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy