420
Founder
I'm writing about Wally Haas' column: "Marijuana is harmful, hurts teens' ability to learn, writer says" ( Oct. 14 ). It seems like many writers are asking whether marijuana should be legalized.
It seems to me that this is the wrong question. The question should be: Should marijuana remain completely unregulated, untaxed and controlled by criminals?
Because marijuana is now illegal, it is sold only by criminals ( criminals who often sell other, much more dangerous drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine ). And they often offer free samples of the more dangerous drugs to their marijuana customers. Thus the so-called "gateway effect."
In a regulated market, this would not happen. Do the readers know of anyone who has been offered a free bottle of whiskey, rum or vodka when legally buying beer or wine? I don't either.
If we regulate, control, and tax the sale and production of marijuana, we close the gateway to hard drugs.
- -- Kirk Muse, Mesa, Ariz.
Source: Rockford Register Star (IL)
Copyright: 2005 Rockford Register Star
Contact: https://www.rrstar.com/ezaccess/contactus/lettertotheeditor.shtml
Website: Rockford Register Star: Local News, Politics & Sports in Rockford, IL
It seems to me that this is the wrong question. The question should be: Should marijuana remain completely unregulated, untaxed and controlled by criminals?
Because marijuana is now illegal, it is sold only by criminals ( criminals who often sell other, much more dangerous drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine ). And they often offer free samples of the more dangerous drugs to their marijuana customers. Thus the so-called "gateway effect."
In a regulated market, this would not happen. Do the readers know of anyone who has been offered a free bottle of whiskey, rum or vodka when legally buying beer or wine? I don't either.
If we regulate, control, and tax the sale and production of marijuana, we close the gateway to hard drugs.
- -- Kirk Muse, Mesa, Ariz.
Source: Rockford Register Star (IL)
Copyright: 2005 Rockford Register Star
Contact: https://www.rrstar.com/ezaccess/contactus/lettertotheeditor.shtml
Website: Rockford Register Star: Local News, Politics & Sports in Rockford, IL
