DRUG POLICY REFORM NEEDED

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and
protecting children from drugs ("Time for serious talk about pot,"
June 25). Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of
marijuana and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering 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 marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized
crime, consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of
hard drugs like heroin.

This "gateway" is the direct result of a fundamentally flawed policy.
Given that marijuana is arguably safer than legal alcohol -- the
plant has never been shown to cause an overdose death -- it makes no
sense to waste tax dollars on failed policies that finance organized
crime and facilitate the use of hard drugs.

Drug policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like
to think the children are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC