MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED

Niagara's hazardous marijuana grow operations are a direct result of
marijuana prohibition, not the plant itself. Legitimate farmers do not
steal electricity to grow produce in the basements of rented homes.

If legal, growing marijuana would be less profitable then farming tomatoes.
As it stands, the drug war distorts market forces such that an easily grown
weed is literally worth its weight in gold. Rather than continue to provide
price supports for organized crime and put neighbourhoods at risk of fire,
policy makers should consider taxing and regulating the sale of marijuana
to adults.

There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting
children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of
marijuana use 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. Marijuana may be relatively
harmless compared to alcohol -- the plant 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. Current drug
policy is a gateway policy.

Robert Sharpe

Program Officer

Drug Policy Alliance

Connecticut Avenue

Washington, D.C.