REGULATE MARIJUANA

ACCORDING TO Alberta Justice Minister David Hancock, Ottawa's plan to
decriminalize marijuana is a bad idea because "It's a starter drug and
it's part of the organized-crime scenario." That's precisely why
reform is needed. 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 addictive drugs like cocaine. This "gateway" is the direct result
of a fundamentally flawed policy. Given that marijuana is arguably
safer than legal alcohol, it makes no sense to waste tax revenue on
failed policies that finance organized crime and facilitate the use of
hard drugs.

Robert Sharpe,

Washington, D.C.

(There's nothing like the pot debate to get the letters going.)