 these seven recommendations. (1) Consumers Union recommends the immediate repeal of all federal laws governing the growing, processing, transportation, sale, possession, and use of marijuana. (2) Consumers Union recommends that each of the fifty states similarly repeal its existing marijuana laws and pass new laws legalizing the cultivation, processing, and orderly marketing of marijuana  subject to appropriate regulations. The term "legalization of marijuana" means many things to many people. As used here, it means that marijuana should be classed as a licit rather than an illicit drug. We do not recommend legalization because we believe that marijuana is "safe" or "harmless." No drug is safe or harmless to all people at all dosage levels or under all conditions of use. Our recommendation arises out of the conviction that an orderly system of legal distribution and licit use will have notable advantages for both users and nonusers over the present marijuana black market. In particular it will separate the channels of marijuana distribution from heroin channels and from the channels of distribution of other illicit drugs  and will thereby limit the exposure of marijuana smokers to other illicit drugs. Even more important, it will end the criminalization and alienation of young people and the damage done to them by arrest, conviction, and imprisonment for marijuana offenses. Three major questions are not answered by the above recommendation: What kind of distribution system should be substituted for the present black-market system?

What specific regulations should govern the new system?

What should be the respective roles of the state and federal governments? Most discussions of legalizing marijuana anticipate that distribution will be turned over to the tobacco companies, or the alcoholic beverage companies, or to similar large commercial enterprises. We urge instead that individual states experiment with a wide range of distribution patterns. Marijuana grows readily in fields, along highways, in backyards, in window boxes, and even in suitably illuminated closets and cellars. An informal distribution system has grown up that, is, in considerable part, a sharing among friends, and that is patterned after native arts-and-crafts enterprise rather than large-scale commercial enterprise. If legalizing marijuana should mean turning over production and distribution exclusively to the tobacco companies or to other corporate giants, it is questionable whether all marijuana smokers would readily patronize such a system. Some would no doubt continue to harvest and distribute their own, illegally, just as mountaineers and others continue to make and sell their own whiskey. Bootlegging does not encourage respect for law. Unfortunately,
these seven recommendations. (1) Consumers Union recommends the immediate repeal of all union law governing the growing, processing, department of transportation, sale, self-control, and use of marijuana. (2) Consumers Union recommends that each of the fifty state similarly revoke its existing marijuana laws and pass new law legalizing the cultivation, processing, and neat marketing of marijuana  subject to appropriate regulations. The term " legalization of marijuana " means many things to many people. As use here, it means that marijuana should be classed as a licit rather than an illegitimate drug. We do not recommend legalization because we believe that marijuana is " dependable " or " harmless. " No drug is safe or harmless to all multitude at all dosage level or under all conditions of use. Our recommendation arises out of the conviction that an neat system of legal distribution and licit use will have notable advantages for both users and nonusers over the present marijuana bootleg grocery store. In particular it will separate the channels of marijuana distribution from heroin channels and from the channels of distribution of other illicit drugs  and will thereby limit the vulnerability of marijuana smokers to other illegitimate drug. Even more important, it will end the criminalization and alienation of young people and the damage suffice to them by arrest, conviction, and imprisonment for marijuana offenses. Three major questions are not suffice by the above recommendation: What kind of distribution system should be substituted for the present black - market system? 

 What specific regulations should regulate the new system? 

 What should be the respective roles of the state and federal governments? Most discussions of legalize marijuana expect that distribution will be turned over to the tobacco companies, or the alcoholic beverage companies, or to similar big commercial enterprises. We urge instead that individual state experiment with a wide range of distribution patterns. Marijuana grows promptly in fields, along highways, in backyards, in window boxes, and even in appropriately illuminated closets and cellars. An informal distribution system has develop up that, is, in considerable part, a communion among friends, and that is patterned after native arts - and - crafts enterprise rather than big - scale commercial enterprise. If legalizing marijuana should mean turning over production and distribution exclusively to the tobacco companies or to other corporate giant, it is questionable whether all marijuana smokers would promptly patronize such a system. Some would no doubt continue to harvest and distribute their own, illegally, just as mountaineers and others cover to make and sell their own whiskey. Bootlegging does not encourage respect for law. Unfortunately,
 thfse seven recommendationr. (1) Consumers Unnin recmmmenda the imoediate repeal of all federap oaws toverning the growing, orocessinh, transpirtauion, sale, possessmkn, and mfe or marnjnana. (2) Consumers Union recmmmends that edcf lf the fifty states similarly repeaj its ecidting marijuanw laef ans pass new laws legalizing the culfivatioi, processing, anc orderly marketing of marljuaja  subject to appgopriate retulaeuons. The tero "legalizauimn of marinuana" means many things to many peopke. As used hwre, ht means thet marpjuana should be clasved as s licit rather then ab illicit drug. We do iot recommend legalieation becduae we believe thar narijoana hs "sxde" ur "gacmlsss." No drng is safe kr harmless to all people at akl eosage levels or unqew all conditions of use. Our recommendatpon zrises out of the convixtion that an orderly system os legal distribution and licit use will have notatle avvxntcncs fue hoth users and nonusers over the present marithama black market. Ln particular it wolp xgparate the chxnnels of marijuana distribktion ftom heeoin changels and from the channels of dustribution jd other illicit drbgs  and wilu thgreby kimit the exposure of mcrijuaha smokers ho other julicit drugs. Evev mpra important, it will end thq criminaoizacion and alignation of young oeoplc and the damage doje to tvem by arrfst, conviction, and imprisonment for marijuana oxfetses. Thrze majpr questions wre not answergd by the abovd recommensation: Xhat kind of distribution dystem shoulv be subseitured dor the oresent black-msrket sysnei?

Whar specific regulatlons rgould govern thz bew system?

What xhojld bv tie ref[ective rolev of thd statd and ftbercl govrrnments? Most discusviona of legalizing matimuana antucipate ehat distribuyion will be turnef ovec to tie tobsccj companies, or the alcoholic bsverage clmpwnies, or to fimioar large cokmercial enterprises. We urge instead thet individual states experiment with a widg rsnge of disvributyon pattesns. Marijuana grows eeadily in fields, along highways, in badkyardv, in aindow boxes, and even in suitably illuminated closets and cellars. An infoemal dmseribution sgstek has gxowu up thwt, id, in considerable part, a sharing among friends, aid that is pctterned after native arts-and-vrxfts enterprire rather than large-scals commervial enterprise. If legalizing msrijuana should mean turking over prodhction and distribution exclisivelv to tye tobaxco gompanies or tu oyhcr corporahe gmancs, it is questionable whether all marijyaja smokers would readily pabrunize such w system. Some wohld hl douct continue tp harvest and cistribute their own, ijlegally, just qa mountaineets and onhers continux to make ang sell their own whiskey. Bootlegging does not encoutage respecu for law. Nnfortunately,
these seven recommendations. (1) Consumers Union recommends repeal all federal governing the growing, use marijuana. (2) Consumers recommends that each the fifty states similarly repeal its marijuana laws and pass new laws legalizing the cultivation, processing, and orderly marketing marijuana  subject to appropriate regulations. The term "legalization of marijuana" means many to people. used it means that marijuana should be classed as a licit rather than an illicit drug. We not recommend legalization because we believe that marijuana "safe" or "harmless." No is safe or harmless to people all dosage or all of use. Our arises out of the conviction that an orderly system of legal distribution and licit use will have advantages for and nonusers the marijuana market. In particular separate the channels of marijuana distribution and from the channels of distribution of other drugs  will thereby limit the exposure of smokers to other illicit drugs. Even more important, will end the criminalization and alienation of young people and the damage done to them conviction, and imprisonment for offenses. Three major are answered the recommendation: What of distribution system should be substituted for the present black-market system? specific regulations should govern the new system? What should be roles the state and governments? Most discussions of marijuana that distribution will be to tobacco alcoholic companies, to similar large commercial We urge instead that individual experiment with a wide grows readily in fields, along highways, in backyards, window boxes, and even in suitably illuminated and cellars. An informal distribution system has grown up that, is, in part, a friends, and that is patterned after native arts-and-crafts rather than large-scale commercial If legalizing marijuana should mean turning over production and exclusively the tobacco or to other giants, it is whether all marijuana readily patronize a Some continue to harvest and distribute their illegally, as mountaineers and others continue make their own whiskey. Bootlegging does not encourage respect for law. Unfortunately,
 these seven recommendations. (1) consumers UNion rEcoMmeNdS the ImmeDiate repeal of aLL fedEral laws governing the grOwing, PrOCessINg, TransPortatiON, sALE, poSsEsSioN, aND uSe of mAriJuana. (2) CoNsumers UniOn rEcOmmends that eACh Of the fifty StaTes similarly RepEal its ExIstINg marIjuAna laWs and pASs new lAws legaliZiNG the cuLTivatioN, PRoCessIng, and orderly markETiNG of marijuana  suBject tO aPPrOPRiaTe rEgulations. thE term "LEgalizaTIoN OF MarIJuana" means manY things to maNY peOple. As UsEd hERe, it meAns thAt MAriJuana should Be clAssed as a lIcit raTHer than AN illiciT drug. WE do Not RecoMMeNd LegAlIZatIOn BecAUse We believE tHaT mariJuanA IS "SAfe" oR "haRmleSs." No dRug is safe or haRmlEss tO All PeoplE at alL dosAgE leveLs or unDer alL cOnditions of use. OUr reCommendatIon ArIseS oUt of tHE conviCtiOn tHat an orDerly sySTem Of LEGAl Distribution and licIt USE wIll have nOtable ADvAnTAges for bOtH usErs aND NonusErs oVEr The preseNt mariJUaNa Black maRkEt. In paRtIcuLar It wilL SepaRate thE channelS of maRIjuana distribuTIon from heroin CHaNNElS And fRom The channels Of diSTribUtioN Of OthER illiCit drUgS  AnD Will thereby limit the ExPosure Of marIjuana smokers To other illICIT drugs. EvEn moRE iMPortant, it will eNd the CriminalizATion and aLienaTion of yoUng people AND the damaGe dOne To tHem BY ArRest, convictioN, ANd imPrIsonmenT foR marijuAna OffEnsEs. THrEe major quEstions aRe NoT aNsWerEd by tHE above reCoMmeNdAtiOn: WhaT Kind of DistrIbutIoN sYSteM should BE sUBStitUtEd For tHe pReSent bLack-MArkEt systeM?

What specIfiC ReguLaTiOns shouLd govern the neW sYstem?

What sHoUld Be the rESPective rOles of the state and federaL GovernmEntS? Most DiscUssions of LegAlizinG maRIjuana AnticiPate tHaT diSTRibutION wIll Be Turned over TO The TobacCo CompAnies, or The alcoholic beveraGE coMpanies, or to siMilAr laRGE cOmmERcIAl eNtERprISEs. We urge instead That indiviDuAL sTates experIMenT wIth a widE range oF distRIbution Patterns. MArijuana gRoWs reADIly In fields, alOng highwAys, in backYArds, iN WiNdow bOxeS, and evEn In sUitabLy illuMInaTed clOsets aNd CellarS. An inFoRmal distRibution system has grown uP that, iS, in coNsiDerable paRt, a SHarIng among fRienDs, and that iS paTteRned aFteR NativE artS-AnD-crAFts enTerpRIse rather THaN laRGE-sCale commercIAL EntErpriSe. IF LegaliZing Marijuana should meAN turning over prOducTIOn aNd dIStriBuTion exclusivelY to ThE TObacco coMpAnies or to otHer corpoRaTE gianTs, it is QuestiOnable wHEThER all maRijuAna Smokers woUld ReADily patRoNiZE such a SystEm. some woUld no dOUbt cONTinue to harvest anD distRIBute tHEir Own, ilLeGally, juST as mOuntaineerS and others cOntinuE to mAke anD sell thEiR own whIskEy. bootlegginG Does not enCouraGe respeCt For lAw. UNfortuNateLY,
 these seven recommendatio ns. (1) Co nsume rsUni on  rec omme nds the immedi a te r epeal of all federal l aws g ov e rnin g  t he gr owing,p ro c e ssi ng ,tra ns p or tatio n,sale, p ossession,  an duse of marij u an a. (2) Con sum ers Union re com mendsth ate ach o f t he fi fty st a tes si milarly r ep e al its existin g ma riju ana laws and pass ne w  laws legalizi ng the  c u lt i v ati on,  processin g,  ando rderlym ar k e t ing of marijuana subjectt o a ppropr ia ter egulat ions.  T h e t erm "legali zati on of mar ijuana "  meansm any thi ngs to  ma nypeop l e.  A s u se d  he r e,  it mea ns thatma ri juana  sho u l d be c las sedas alicit rathertha n an ill icitdrug.  Wedo  notrecomm end l eg alization becau se w e believe  th at  ma ri juana is "sa fe"  or  "harml ess." N o  dr ug i s  s afe or harmless to  a l l  p eople at  all d o sa ge levels o rund er a l l  cond itio n sof use.Our re c om me ndation  a risesou t o f t he co n vict ion th at an or derly system of lega l  distribution an d li c it u sewill have n otab l e ad vant a ge s f o r bot h use rs an d  nonusers over thepr esentmarij uana black ma rket. In p a r t icular i t wi l ls eparate the ch annel s of marij u ana dist ribut ion from  heroin c h a nnels an d f rom  th e c h a nn els of distri b u tion  o f other  il licit d rug s   a ndwi ll thereb y limitth eex po sur e ofm arijuana  s mok er s t o oth e r illi cit d rugs .Ev e n m ore imp o rt a n t, i twi ll e ndth e cri mina l iza tion an d alienat ion of y ou ng  people  and the dama ge  done to t he m b y arre s t , convic tion, and imprisonmentf or mari jua na of fens es. Three  ma jor qu est i ons ar e notanswe re d b y the a b o ve  re co mmendation : Wha t kin dof d istribu tion system should besubstituted f orthep r es ent bl a ck- ma r ket s ystem?

What sp ecific reg ul a ti ons should gov er n the n ew syst em?
W hat sho uld be th e respect iv e ro l e s o f the stat e and fe deral gov e rnmen t s?  Most  di scussi on s o f leg alizin g  ma rijua na ant ic ipatethatdi stributi on will be turned overto the  toba cco  companie s,o r t he alcoho licbeverage c omp ani es, o r t o  simi larl ar gec ommer cial enterpris e s.  We u rg e instead t h a t  in divid ual states  exp eriment with a wi d e range of dis trib u t ion  pa t tern s.  Marijuana gro wsre a d ily in f ie lds, alonghighways ,i n bac kyards , in w indow b o x es ,  and e veninsuitablyill um i nated c lo se t s andcell ar s. Aninform a l di s t ribution systemhas g r o wn up tha t, is ,in cons i dera ble part,a sharing a mong f rien ds, a nd that  i s patt ern ed  after nat i ve arts-a nd-cr afts en te rpri serather  tha n large -sca le  co mmerciale n te r pr is e . I f le galiz in g ma rijuana s h ould mea n t u rning o ve r p r o ductio n  a n d  distribut ion  excl u s ively to t h e to b ac c o com panies  or to  otherc orp or ate gia nts , it is que stionable whe th er a ll marij ua na s mo ker swould readily p atronize  such as y stem.Som e  wou l d no d ou bt continueto ha rv e st andd i str ibute t h eir  ow n,ille gal ly,j ust as mountaineers andothe rs co n tin ue to  make  a nd sellt heir  own whi s key. Bootlegg ing does not en c our a ge r esp e ct  f or law. U nfo r tunat ely, 
 these_seven recommendations._(1) Consumers Union recommends_the immediate_repeal_of all_federal_laws governing the_growing, processing, transportation,_sale, possession, and use_of marijuana. (2)_Consumers_Union recommends that each of the fifty states similarly repeal its existing marijuana laws_and_pass new_laws_legalizing_the cultivation, processing, and orderly_marketing of marijuana  subject_to appropriate_regulations. The term "legalization of marijuana" means many_things_to many people._As used here, it means that marijuana should be_classed as a licit rather than_an illicit drug._We_do_not recommend legalization because_we believe that marijuana is "safe"_or "harmless." No drug is safe_or harmless to all people at all_dosage levels or under all conditions_of use. Our recommendation arises_out of_the conviction that an orderly_system of legal_distribution and_licit use will_have notable advantages for both users_and nonusers over_the present marijuana black market. In_particular_it will separate_the_channels_of marijuana_distribution from heroin_channels_and from_the_channels of distribution of other illicit_drugs_ and will thereby limit the exposure_of marijuana smokers to_other_illicit drugs. Even more_important, it will end the_criminalization and alienation of young people_and the_damage done_to them by arrest, conviction, and imprisonment for marijuana offenses. Three_major questions are not answered by_the above recommendation: What_kind of_distribution_system should be_substituted_for the_present black-market system?

What specific regulations should govern_the new_system?

What should be the respective roles_of the state and_federal_governments? Most discussions of legalizing marijuana_anticipate that distribution will be turned_over to the tobacco companies,_or_the_alcoholic beverage companies, or to_similar large commercial enterprises. We urge_instead that individual_states experiment with a wide range of_distribution_patterns. Marijuana grows readily in fields,_along_highways, in backyards, in window boxes,_and_even_in suitably illuminated closets and_cellars. An informal distribution system has_grown up that, is, in considerable part, a sharing_among friends, and_that is patterned after native_arts-and-crafts_enterprise_rather than large-scale commercial enterprise. If legalizing marijuana should mean_turning over_production and distribution_exclusively to the tobacco companies or to other corporate giants,_it is questionable whether all marijuana smokers_would readily patronize such a system. Some would no doubt continue_to harvest and distribute their own, illegally, just_as mountaineers and others continue to make_and sell their own_whiskey._Bootlegging does not encourage respect for law._Unfortunately,