cannabisnews.com: Legalizing Marijuana Would Save Our Kids Legalizing Marijuana Would Save Our Kids Posted by FoM on November 24, 2000 at 13:52:34 PT Letters To The Editor By Robert Sharpe Source: Honolulu Advertiser Regarding the Nov. 20 article on Oregon’s offer to help with Hawai‘i’s medical marijuana program: Hawai‘i’s Legislature should be commended for being the first state to approve medical marijuana through legislation instead of voter initiative. Not only should medical marijuana be available to patients in need, but adult recreational use should be regulated as well.The reason for this is simple: Leaving the distribution of popular recreational drugs in the hands of organized crime puts children at great risk. Unlike legitimate businesses that sell liquor, illegal drug dealers working the black market do not check IDs for age, but they do push profitable, addictive drugs like "ice" when given the chance. Drug policies designed to protect children have given rise to a youth-oriented black market in which illicit drugs are readily available.Sensible regulation is desperately needed to undermine the black market and restrict access to drugs. Marijuana is the most popular illicit drug. Compared to legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco, marijuana is relatively harmless. Yet marijuana prohibition is deadly. While there is nothing inherent in marijuana that compels users to try harder drugs, its black market status puts users in contact with criminals who push them.As long as marijuana remains illegal, the established criminal distribution network will ensure that children sample every toxic poison concocted by drug pushers. Current drug policy is effectively a gateway policy.As counter-intuitive as it may seem, replacing marijuana prohibition with regulation would do a better job protecting children from drugs than the failed drug war.Robert SharpeProgram Officer, The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy FoundationWashington, D.C.http://www.lindesmith.org/Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)Author: Robert SharpePublished: Friday, November 24, 2000 Copyright: 2000 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.Contact: letters honoluluadvertiser.comAddress: P.O. Box 3110 Honolulu, HI 96802Fax: (808) 525-8037Website: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/Related Article:Oregon Offers Help on Marijuana Ruleshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7716.shtmlCannabisNews Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Phyro the Dragon on November 26, 2000 at 03:44:15 PT Its Abought time! Well well well Finely some one see's that the WOD is the first stumbling stone in the road to Clearing up this Mess. Thankyou Very Much Mr Robert Sharpe OF L.C.D.P Maby if some one like you stand up and say NO! MORE! maby things will Change??? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Rev. Jonathan Adler on November 25, 2000 at 09:17:31 PT: Hawaii Medical Marijuana Aloha, Hawaii has just had it's first and maybe only public hearing for testimony on rules for medical cannbis users.I attended and declared the rules were unworkable and illegal. Others from the Legal Dept. of UH said the same. I proposed that Public Safety clearly identify The Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute as the 1st production facility in Hawaii to be a source for all qualified patients that they approve and that I was already actively supplying the needs of many patients, doctors and pharmacists who supported my religious healing ministry which was not affected by their rules at all. See www.medijuana.com Kids are not stupid if parents teach them well at home. I have pulled my 10 year old out of the DARE program this year. Aloha to all! Jonathan Adler Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Eastern Hempishpere on November 24, 2000 at 20:58:43 PT: Save our kids DUH! I could have told you that [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: