PUB LTE: Legalize, Regulate Marijuana
December 2, 2006
The Reporter
A letter writer certainly uses an awfully broad brush when he lays all blame for the very real tragedies that have befallen his family solely on a green plant("Where is concern for marijuana victims?" The Reporter, Nov 19 ).
I am unaware of a single credible drug law reform activist who advocates either driving while intoxicated or the indiscriminate use of marijuana by teenagers. I am aware of many teachers, law enforcement officers, judges and Christian ministers who advocate removing marijuana from the black market. Consistently teens report that marijuana is easier for them to buy than is alcohol or tobacco. That's because those two drugs are sold by licensed, regulated vendors who check ID. All the criminal drug dealer wants to see from our kids is the cash.
We call marijuana prohibition a drug control strategy, but in truth it takes all control over the manufacture, distribution and sale of cannabis out of legitimate government oversight and cedes it to criminal syndicates. Tell me again, just how is that scheme supposed to keep marijuana out of the hands of teens? Because as even the letter writer appears to concede, it sure doesn't seem to be working.
Legalize, regulate, tax, control. For the good of our children.
There is a better way.
Greg Francisco
Educators for Sensible Drug Policy
Paw Paw, Michigan
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