ENDING PROHIBITION OF POT IS THE KEY

In Your July 16 Editorial "Decriminalize It," You Write That "There Is
Cause To Fear That Full-scale Legalization Would Entail Further
Proliferation Of Marijuana Use, Particularly By Children" And That "The
Profits From Marijuana Flow Very Largely To Criminal Gangs." The Truth Is
That Children Have Easier Access To Marijuana Under Prohibition Than To A
Drug (Such As Alcohol) That Is Legal And Sold In Adult-only Stores.

Alcohol Is Not Sold In Schools. Sure, Kids Can Steal Alcohol From Their
Parents, But Unless Their Parents Are Incredibly Irresponsible, The Kids
Can't Get Enough Alcohol To Get Addicted. But They Can Buy Enough Heroin Or
Cocaine To Get Addicted At School Or On The Streets, In The 24-hour,
Unrestricted Black Market That Prohibition Creates.

This Access Will Not Change With Decriminalization. The Black Market And
Its Huge, Illicit Drug Profits Will Still Exist. The Police Will Still Have
Their Laws To Threaten And Intimidate Adult Marijuana Users. The Children
Will Still Have Easy Access, And Some Terrorists Will Still Make Use Of
These Inflated, Illicit Drug Profits.

Yes, We Can Keep Drugs From Children And Keep The Illicit Profits That
Prohibition Creates From Terrorists, But We Have To Allow Adults Legal
Access To These Drugs.

The Choice Is Simple: Let's Get Children To Adulthood Drug Free, And Then
Let The Adults, Instead Of Big Brother, Decide What's Good For Them.

Kevin Allan

North Vancouver, B.c.