TAXING MARIJUANA IS A COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE

Dear Editor: The work of Alabama's 24th Judicial Circuit Drug and Violent
Crime Task Force is no doubt well-intended, but ultimately
counterproductive. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while
demand remains constant only increase the profitability of trafficking. In
terms of addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads
desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits.
The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.

The burden on taxpayers grows every year as ever more drug offenders are
imprisoned. America now has the highest incarceration rate in the world,
yet drug use continues unabated as new dealers step in to reap inflated
illicit market profits. Let's not kid ourselves about protecting children.
Illegal drug dealers don't ID for age, but they do recruit minors immune to
adult sentences.

Taxing and regulating marijuana, the most popular illicit drug, is a
cost-effective alternative to never-ending drug war. There is a big
difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from
drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana.
What's really needed is a regulated market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. Marijuana may be
relatively harmless compared to alcohol -- pot has never been shown to
cause an overdose death -- but marijuana prohibition is deadly. As long as
marijuana distribution remains in the hands of organized crime, consumers
will continue to come into contact with hard drugs like meth. Current drug
policy is a gateway policy.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Program Officer

Drug Policy Alliance

Washington, DC