MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED

I'm writing about: "Speakers debate pros, cons of legalizing
marijuana" (10-10-05). Should marijuana be legalized? It seems to me
that this is the wrong question. The question should be: Should
marijuana remain unregulated, untaxed and controlled by criminals?

Due to marijuana being illegal, it is only sold by criminals
(criminals who sell much more dangerous drugs like cocaine and
methamphetamine). They often offer free samples of more dangerous
drugs to their marijuana customers ("gateway effect"). In a regulated
market, this would not happen. Do the readers know of anyone who has
been offered a free bottle of alcohol when legally buying beer or
wine? Probably not. If we regulate, control, and tax the sale and
production of marijuana, we can then close the gateway to hard or
dangerous drugs.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, AZ