IF WE REGULATE MARIJUANA, IT WON'T BE A 'GATEWAY DRUG'

I'm writing about Renee Downing's "Marijuana World" (Nov. 17). Should
marijuana be legalized for medical use or any other use? 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 (who
often sell 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