Pubdate: Sat, 01 Apr 2000 Date: 04/01/2000 Source: Massachusetts News (MA) Author: Neal Smith Editor's Comment: Many people in Boston are disturbed that the Libertarian Party participates in the marijuana rally that is held on the Boston Common every year and encourages the use of the drug by teenagers. They wonder whether the Libertarians 1) merely advocate the freedom of adults to use any drug they choose or 2) whether they are also saying that marijuana is harmless. So we commissioned this debate. The answer turns out to be that the Libertarians do not believe that marijuana is much of a problem. We asked Prof. Miron to write an article for us that appeared in the February issue. He basically said that marijuana is minimally dangerous. Therefore, we have apparently reached the conclusion that the Libertarian participation at the marijuana rally is not just for the freedom to use any drug, but also to dispel any belief that marijuana is dangerous. We have received many letters from all over the world on this subject. We cannot print them all so we will limit this to two of them. We had hoped to limit the discussion to the marijuana issue which has disturbed so many, but many letters have mixed the two issues of freedom and marijuana into one as this did. The letter from the next reader is more about the issue of marijuana. We have offered Prof. Miron the opportunity to respond on the issue of marijuana. Studies Compared to Gutter Science I take note that the detractors from Professor Miron's refutation of George Biernson's statements regarding the harmfulness of marijuana quote U.S. government conducted or funded studies. Many of these studies, it has been repeatedly proven, fall into the category of "gutter science." For several decades the federal government has lied about marijuana. Trusting the statements of Donna Shalala or Barry McAfferey is demonstrably wrong. I also note that the government, which has a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal, likes to ignore studies commissioned by the government that do not support their silly ideas. The Shaffer Commission Report, commissioned in 1972 and the more recent Institute of Medicine report that handily shot down the "Gateway Theory" come most readily to mind. Marijuana, essentially made illegal in 1937, was the scapegoat in which petrochemical businesses, their financial backers and out-of-work alcohol "prohibition" bureaucrats used to keep the industrial uses of hemp out of the marketplace. Now that we face another potential fuel crisis, the government has to hustle to keep up their facade. With the help of Ms. Lea Palleria Cox, M.A.T. President, Concerned Citizens for Drug Prevention, Inc., Massachusetts Delegate, Drug Watch International and others of her ilk, the government can continue to muddy the waters of truth. The truth is that no substance, including marijuana, is harm-free. However, as so aptly stated by DEA Administrative Judge Francis Young, marijuana is safer than many of the foods we commonly consume. Further, the truth is that government has no ethics nor morals and has no problem with lying to support their position. Those who ally themselves with government's position on drugs and marijuana lower themselves to government's level. I caution you and your readers: If it's from the government about marijuana, don't believe it! Neal Smith, Indianapolis, IN