REGULATE MARIJUANA TO CONTROL DRUGS

The Daily Star's Feb. 13 editorial summed up everything that is wrong with
the drug war with the line, "No matter how many you get rid of, more and
more (drug dealers) will take their places." Attempts to limit the supply
of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increases the
profitability of drug trafficking. In terms of addictive drugs such as
heroin, a rise 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 drug war's burden on taxpayers gets higher every year as ever-more drug
users and dealers are imprisoned for consensual vices. Drug use continues
unabated as new dealers immediately 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 the $50 billion drug war. 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. Right now
kids have an easier time buying pot than beer.

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 like cocaine.

Robert Sharpe,
Washington, D.C.