From: "Jamie Gilmer"
<membership@mpp.org>
Date: 6/12/2016 3:53:08 PM
To: "Haley,
Nikki" <NikkiHaley@gov.sc.gov>
Cc:
Subject: Control the
marijuana market and save on law enforcement
Jun 12,
2016
Governor Nikki Haley
Office of the Governor
1205
Pendleton Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Dear Governor
Haley,
I write to encourage you to introduce or support legislation
to
regulate and tax marijuana similarly to alcohol and tobacco
--
significantly less safe substances that are legal for adult
use.
A 2013 study by the American Civil Liberties Union estimated
that in
one year, states spent approximately $3.6 billion enforcing
marijuana
possession laws, and that blacks are nearly four times more
likely than
whites to be arrested for marijuana possession, despite
using marijuana
at similar rates as whites. Taxing and regulating
marijuana would make
law enforcement better equipped to investigate
crimes with victims, and
a significant source of tax revenue could be
created.
Laws prohibiting marijuana use are not only wasteful, but
they have
also failed to reduce use or teen access. Underground
marijuana sales
are completely unregulated. Unlike alcohol or tobacco
sales from
licensed vendors, underground marijuana sales can take place
anywhere,
and sellers have no incentive to check customers' ages.
Taxing and
regulating marijuana would put an end to the underground
marijuana
market and to a significant source of racial profiling by
police. It
would regulate sellers and create barriers to teen access
while
boosting the fairness and efficiency of the criminal justice
system.
Please introduce or support legislation that will replace
wasteful,
ineffective laws with policies that will improve law
enforcement, put
drug dealers out of business, create tax revenue, and
reduce marijuana
use among youth.
Thank you for your
time.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Jamie Gilmer
6395 Keowee
Rd
Honea Path, SC 29654-7670
(864)
276-1507
jamie.higdon@yahoo.com
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