To the Editor:Re “Don’t Ignore the Risks of Pot,” by Alex Berenson (Op-Ed, Jan. 5):Any potential harm caused by marijuana is far outweighed by the harms of prohibition, stigmatization and criminalization. Decriminalization — turning marijuana possession into a violation, which Mr. Berenson proposes as an alternative to legalization — does not do enough to ensure the end of racially biased searches and arrests. More important, decriminalization does not address restitution toward the black and brown communities disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs. Marijuana has been used by various cultures across the globe for millenniums. As a woman of color, I consider it my duty to make sure that the racist origins of marijuana prohibition are not forgotten.

Source: New York Times January 13, 2019 18:22 UTC