DRUG WAR ON MARIJUANA INEFFECTIVE FOR LOWERING USAGE

Dear editor,

Regarding George Will's Nov. 30, column, the drug war is largely a war
on marijuana smokers. In 2008, there were 847,863 marijuana arrests in
the United States, almost 90 percent for simple possession. At a time
when state and local governments are laying off police, firefighters
and teachers, this country continues to spend enormous public
resources criminalizing Americans who prefer marijuana to martinis.
The end result of this ongoing culture war is not necessarily lower
rates of use.

The United States has higher rates of marijuana use than the
Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available. Decriminalization
is a long overdue step in the right direction. Taxing and regulating
marijuana would render the drug war obsolete. As long as organized
crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers will continue to come
into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine and heroin. This
"gateway" is a direct result of marijuana prohibition.

Robert Sharpe

Policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.