BANNING MARIJUANA DOESN'T CONTROL IT

I agree with Laura Graham's thoughtful column "Smoking marijuana not
worse than drinking" (Oct. 14).

This brings up the question: Should marijuana be legalized?

It seems to me that this is the wrong question. The question should
be: Should marijuana remain completely unregulated, untaxed and
controlled by criminals?

Because marijuana is now illegal, it is sold only by criminals --
criminals who often sell other, much more dangerous drugs like
cocaine and methamphetamine. And they often offer free samples of the
more dangerous drugs to their marijuana customers, thus (creating)
the so-called "gateway effect."

In a regulated market, this would not happen.

Do the readers know of anyone who has been offered a free bottle of
whiskey, rum or vodka when legally buying beer or wine?

I don't either.

If we regulate, control and tax the sale and production of marijuana,
we close the gateway to hard drugs.

- -- Kirk Muse

Mesa, AZ