EDITOR,

Re. “A joint effort on marijuana,” Just a Thought, Chief, Sept. 27.

The vote by B.C. municipal leaders to decriminalize marijuana is a step in the right direction. There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana and frees users from criminal records. What’s really needed is a regulated market with age controls.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. The marijuana plant is relatively harmless. Marijuana prohibition is deadly. As long as organized crime controls marijuana distribution, consumers of the most popular illicit drug will come into contact with sellers of hard drugs like cocaine, meth and heroin. Marijuana prohibition is a gateway drug policy.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.