CHANGES TO MARIJUANA LAWS

FAILED POLICY WASTES TAX DOLLARS

State Rep. Harold Dutton's proposal to reduce penalties for small amounts
of marijuana is just a step in the right direction. There is a big
difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from
drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana use
and frees users from the stigma of life-shattering criminal records. But as
long as marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized crime,
consumers will continue to come into contact with sellers of hard drugs
such as cocaine.

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

Robert Sharpe

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.