ALLOW RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA

Not only should medical marijuana be made available to patients in
need, but also, adult recreational use should be regulated.

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and
protecting children from drugs. What's needed is a regulated market
with age controls. Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical.

As long as marijuana distribution remains in organized crime's hands,
consumers will come into contact with drugs like methamphetamine. This
"gateway" is the result of a fundamentally flawed policy. It makes no
sense to waste tax dollars on failed policies that finance organized
crime and facilitate hard drug use.

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

Policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.