LEAVING MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTION IN HANDS OF ORGANIZED CRIME IS DANGEROUS

I think it's outragous that the Northumberland OPP is targeting
medical marijuana patients like Dianne Bruce. The marijuana plant has
been used medicinally for thousand of years. Not only should medical
marijuana be made available to patients in need, but adult
recreational use should be regulated as well. The reason for this is
simple: Leaving the distribution of popular recreational drugs in the
hands of organized crime puts children at great risk.

When threatened, the drug war gravy train predictably decries the
"message" that drug policy reform sends to children. There is a big
difference between condoning marijuana use and protetcing 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
enforceable age controls. Right now kids have an easier time buying
pot than beer.

Although marijuana is relatively harmless compared to most legal drugs
- - the plant has never been shown to cause an overdose death -
marijuana prohibition is deadly. As the most popular illicit drug,
marijuana provides the black market contacts that introduce consumers
to harder drugs. Current drug policy is a gateway policy.

Robert Sharpe, M.P.A.

Program Officer

The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation

Washington, DC