DRUG POLICIES DON'T WORK SO WHY NOT LEGALIZE AND TAX MARIJUANA?

I am extremely disappointed and even outraged with the ineffectiveness of
our drug policies.

Drug dealers are having a field day, and addicts are suffering. Nobody
wants to be an addict; the problem is they are addicted. Did they realize
the extent of their fate before they became addicted? Probably not, or they
wouldn't be an addict. Addiction is a horrible thing, and those who suffer
from it need medical treatment. But we don't have enough money to give it
to them because it costs too much to house them in our prisons, where, as I
understand it, drugs also reside. They are everywhere; our communities and
our kids are not safe from them. The only happy camper is the dealer.

Some people say we should invest in health care instead of prisons. By
allowing addicts legal access under the strict supervision of medical
professionals, we could put these happy campers out of business and the
suffering addict could be receiving treatment. And all the money we spend
on the ineffective war on drugs could be spent on education instead, which
would likely result in fewer becoming addicted in the first place. It
doesn't sound like such a bad idea, but unless people started voting for
those third-party candidates, it's not likely to happen.

I say, say NO to pot, but YES to legalization, education, regulation and
taxation. It could never, ever be as destructive as alcohol or tobacco, and
it would free up a whole lot of police resources so we could better deal
with the violence and out-of-control crack epidemic that is truly making
our communities unsafe. The tax profits (instead of fueling the black
market) could be used for education and health care.

Then, if that doesn't work, I guess we vote for the third parties. Heck,
vote for them anyway.

Sandy Cote, cofounder, Ohio Marijuana Party Political Action Committee and
national outreach coordinator, U.S. Marijuana Party, Toledo