SO WHEN WILL PROHIBITION WORK?

Seventy years after the federal government decided to make it a crime
to grow or possess marijuana, its use is still prevalent, and the
industry literally growing.

The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was just four years after the passage
of the 21st amendment repealing alcohol prohibition, which lasted
only 13 years but was marked by violence, organized crime and an
unregulated product that was still highly consumed.

Marijuana prohibition has lasted 70 years, and although some people
might not agree, it should be repealed as well.

Currently the marijuana market is unregulated, untaxed and controlled
by organized crime.

So why did it take only 13 years for the government to realize it
made a bad choice by outlawing alcohol, but it continues to feel that
prohibition is the right approach for marijuana?

After all there are still dry counties and towns in America where the
residents feel that alcohol should still be banned, and if marijuana
prohibition were repealed there would likely be counties and towns
outlawing marijuana. A recent study by Jon Gettman Ph.D. "Lost Taxes
and Other Costs of Marijuana Laws," estimates that marijuana in the
U.S. is a $113 billion industry annually and that American taxpayers
are losing a total of $41 billion toward enforcement of marijuana
laws and lost potential tax revenue.

Currently those who use marijuana are criminals even if they do it in
the privacy of their own homes and grow it themselves.

This is simply outrageous in a country that prides itself on freedom
and liberty.

If marijuana were treated like alcohol, with driving and age
restrictions along with a regulated industry to purchase this highly
consumed product, then the American people would benefit in the long run.

Most high school children claim that it is easier to buy marijuana
than it is alcohol; this should lead one to believe that making
marijuana sales similar to alcohol would make it harder for children
to acquire this substance, but for some reason supporters of
marijuana prohibition just can seem to see through smoke.

Dan Linn

Round Lake Executive Director Illinois NORML