triprey
Concerned Medical Patient
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]C&P from Normal.org
LITTLE PROGRESS ON POT
by Paul Armentano, (Source:Tribune)
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]04 Sep 2007
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]California
[/FONT]-------
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]While it may be true that law enforcement seized a record number of pot plants growing in North County ( "Marijuana busts pass 2006," Aug. 31 ), does anyone really believe that the net outcome of these operations will be a tangible reduction in the demand or availability of marijuana in the local area?
It's time for a reality check. State and federal law enforcement personnel arrest about 800,000 Americans annually and spend about $10 billion per year enforcing marijuana prohibition.
Nevertheless, the U.S. government reports that domestic marijuana production has increased tenfold in the past 25 years, from 1,000 metric tons ( 2.2 million pounds ) to 10,000 metric tons ( 22 million pounds ). Is this the sign of a successful public policy?
The continued criminal prohibition of cannabis has had no discernable, longterm effect on marijuana's availability or use, especially among young people. A wiser and long-overdue national policy would tax and regulate the use of cannabis in a manner similar to alcohol--with the drug's sale and use restricted to specific markets and consumers.
While such an alternative may not entirely eliminate the black market demand for pot, it would certainly be preferable to today's blanket -- though thoroughly ineffective, expensive and impotent --criminal prohibition.
Paul Armentano
Senior policy analyst, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Washington, D.C.
[SIZE=-1]MAP posted-by: Richard Lake
[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Pubdate: Tue, 04 Sep 2007
Source: Tribune, The (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Copyright: 2007 The Tribune
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/391
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1005/a02.html
Author: Paul Armentano
[/SIZE]
LITTLE PROGRESS ON POT
by Paul Armentano, (Source:Tribune)
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]04 Sep 2007
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]California
[/FONT]-------
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]While it may be true that law enforcement seized a record number of pot plants growing in North County ( "Marijuana busts pass 2006," Aug. 31 ), does anyone really believe that the net outcome of these operations will be a tangible reduction in the demand or availability of marijuana in the local area?
It's time for a reality check. State and federal law enforcement personnel arrest about 800,000 Americans annually and spend about $10 billion per year enforcing marijuana prohibition.
Nevertheless, the U.S. government reports that domestic marijuana production has increased tenfold in the past 25 years, from 1,000 metric tons ( 2.2 million pounds ) to 10,000 metric tons ( 22 million pounds ). Is this the sign of a successful public policy?
The continued criminal prohibition of cannabis has had no discernable, longterm effect on marijuana's availability or use, especially among young people. A wiser and long-overdue national policy would tax and regulate the use of cannabis in a manner similar to alcohol--with the drug's sale and use restricted to specific markets and consumers.
While such an alternative may not entirely eliminate the black market demand for pot, it would certainly be preferable to today's blanket -- though thoroughly ineffective, expensive and impotent --criminal prohibition.
Paul Armentano
Senior policy analyst, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Washington, D.C.
[SIZE=-1]MAP posted-by: Richard Lake[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Pubdate: Tue, 04 Sep 2007
Source: Tribune, The (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Copyright: 2007 The Tribune
Contact: [email protected]
Website: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/391
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1005/a02.html
Author: Paul Armentano
[/SIZE]
