CLOSE 'GATEWAY' TO HARD DRUGS BY LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

Regarding the editorial April 27, "These victories keep drugs off our
streets," I agree that legalizing methamphetamine won't make meth a harmless
drug. But there is a strong case to be made for closing the "gateway" to
hard drugs by taxing and regulating the sale of marijuana.

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
meth. 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

Washington

The writer is a policy analyst for Common Sense for Drug Policy in
Washington.