ILLEGAL MARIJUANA MARKET HARMS COMMUNITY

To the editor:

This letter is in response to one that appeared on April 5, "Anti-
marijuana editorial lauded.'

As a retired New Jersey state trooper with 12 years as an undercover
drug narc, I've got a sobering response to letter writer Joyce
Nalepka's suggestion that leaving the marijuana market on the street
is preferable to a legal, regulated system.

Based on my experience as a cop and that of my many colleagues who
make up the membership of our international organization, we know that
an illegal drug market stimulates distribution to minor-aged kids,
while also increasing the direct involvement of minors in sales. This
is especially true when talking about marijuana, when our teenagers
tell us that obtaining pot is much easier than getting access to
regulated drugs.

Ending the current criminal laws against responsible adult marijuana
possession would motivate and create a legal, regulated system for
production and commercial distribution. This is the sensible approach
we currently employ for other risky drugs including alcohol, tobacco
and Rx pharmaceuticals.

A legal, regulated system for any drug =AD including marijuana =AD is
not without problems. But it is far preferable to a system which
assures a multi-billion dollar market will be on the streets and 100
percent unregulated.

The cops, judges and other criminal justice professionals who make up
our international membership have no interest in either promoting or
condoning marijuana use. However, we certainly cannot condone nor
promote the continuation of a policy which empowers an aggressive
street market for marijuana or any other in-demand drug.

JACK A. COLE

Executive Director

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

Medford, Mass.