DRUG POLICY REFORM NEEDED

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and
protecting children from drugs.

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.

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and
protecting children from drugs. 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, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC