I want to thank you for your paper's effort to reform the
marijuana laws. As an attorney and elected official (US), I've
seen first-hand the cruel and unnecessary damage done by the "war
on drug users". Indeed, like alcohol prohibition (in the USA)
before it, the so-called drug war has caused more individual and
societal harm than the abuse of drugs ever could. In particular,
it is most inhumane, illogical and fiscally wasteful to imprison
those who consume marijuana, when by every scientific and
anecdotal standard it is far less toxic and addictive than either
alcohol or tobacco.

The specious argument that marijuana use somehow leads to the use
of harder drugs (the "gateway theory") is especially troublesome.
In Holland, where marijuana use is not prosecuted, a lower
percentage of young people use marijuana than in other countries
where its use is criminalised. In fact, to the degree that there
is any correlation between marijuana use and use of harder drugs,
it exists because marijuana users must now obtain their marijuana
from the same criminal element that provides the harder, more
dangerous drugs.

Everyone's goal should be to reduce the availability of drugs to
our children and the harm associated with substance abuse.
Unfortunately, by continuing to promote the failed policy of
prohibition, the "drug warriors" guarantee that that can't and
won't happen.

Richard D. Elrick
Cape Cod, USA