cannabisnews.com: Drug Policy Failure





Drug Policy Failure
Posted by FoM on May 27, 2000 at 16:30:54 PT
Opinion By Robert Sharpe
Source: Idaho State Journal
Your recent methamphetamine editorial. Methamphetamine is the latest synthetic drug to make headlines in Idaho and elsewhere, but it won't be the last. America's drug policy is a complete failure when it comes to protecting children. In fact, current drug policy is a gateway policy. 
As the most popular illicit drug, marijuana provides the black market connections that introduce pot smokers to hard drugs like methamphetamine. While there is nothing inherent in the marijuana plant that compels users to try deadly drugs, its black market status puts users in contact with criminals who sell them. Just as disturbing is the manner in which children have an easier time purchasing marijuana than beer. While a liquor store will refuse to sell alcohol to a minor to avoid losing its license, a drug dealer will sell to anyone. As long as marijuana remains illegal, the established criminal distribution network will ensure that America's children can sample every new poison concocted by drug pushers. Given that marijuana is increasingly recognized as being safer than alcohol or tobacco - it is impossible to die from a marijuana overdose - why not end marijuana prohibition? The answer, of course, is culture.The marijuana leaf represents the counterculture to those Americans who would like to turn the clock back to the 1950s. This misguided culture war has gone on long enough. As counterintuitive as it may seem, legalizing marijuana would both limit access and separate the hard and soft drug markets which serve to introduce youth to the truly deadly drugs. Robert SharpeStudents for Sensible Drug PolicyGeorge Washington UniversityWashingtonPublished: May 27, 2000Copyright © 2000 Idaho State JournalRelated Articles & Web Site:Students For Sensible Drug Policyhttp://www.ssdp.org/Drug-Crazy http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5850.shtmlThe Anti-Meth Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5844.shtmlStudent Leaders in Drug Policy & Justicehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread3547.shtml Rep. Frank Discusses Drug Policy at U.Mass-Boston http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread3955.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by fivepounder on May 28, 2000 at 07:39:29 PT
the truth
Short, sweet and tells it likes it is. What a different world it would be if this reasonable logic prevailed in this country
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Comment #1 posted by Dankhank on May 27, 2000 at 18:56:52 PT:
hurrah!
A short, succint super story that all who oppose legalization should read ...Email it to friend or foe ...Peace ...
HEMP n STUFF
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