REGULATING POT IS BETTER THAN ERADICATING IT

Regarding Dave Peyton's thoughtful July 29 column, international drug
cartels are the prime beneficiaries of West Virginia's marijuana
eradication efforts. As long as there is demand for marijuana, there will
be a supply. Eliminating a local cottage industry -- to have it replaced by
organized crime groups that also sell cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine
- -- is not necessarily a good thing.

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

Decriminalization acknowledges the reality of marijuana use 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.

This is the direct result of a fundamentally flawed policy.

It makes no sense to waste limited law enforcement resources on
counterproductive policies that finance organized crime and facilitate the
use of hard drugs.

Robert Sharpe

Washington, D.C.

Sharpe is a policy analyst for Common Sense for Drug Policy.