Marijuana Policy Project

For those getting on the marijuana legalization bandwagon, I would like to suggest the consideration of unintended consequences of legalizing this insidious social drug ("Plans to legalize pot," Our View, June 21).

In 1919 the U.S. Congress prohibited the production, distribution, and sales of alcoholic beverages - i.e., Prohibition. But Congress later reversed itself with legislation in 1933 that made it legal to produce and sell alcoholic beverages. In so doing it also eliminated the income of criminals that bootlegged alcohol. In order to make a living gangsters continued their illegal activities and just switched their marketing tactics from alcohol to other drugs, prostitution, loan sharking, etc. At least their target market was still adults.

I submit that should marijuana become legal today the illegal producers will only switch their activities to other, harder drugs and softer customers. Criminals that lose their income are not going to suddenly start flipping burgers at your local fast-food restaurant.

They are going to start marketing to a different customer at a greater social cost. Their new customers will likely be children.

If pot is legalized, should we also legalize cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, meth, and other drugs? Of course not.

Some have said "Pot is a social drug with very little negative effects." Studies have shown over and over again the damage done by smoking marijuana: physically, mentally and socially.

I say keep marijuana illegal. I know the arguments for legalization. I just don't buy them and I don't believe the arguments have been well thought out. Supporters just want their pot legally without thinking about the unintended consequences.