Pubdate: Sun, 11 Jun 2000 Date: 06/11/2000 Source: Post-Standard, The (NY) Author: Michael Wilson Authors: Michael Wilson Cited: ReconsiDer: http://www.reconsider.org/ To the Editor: To Rep. Walsh: I was disgusted, but unfortunately not surprised, to hear that Nicholas Eyle and Dr. Eugene Tinelli were denied positions on the Syracuse-Onondaga Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission. It is disgraceful that our government is willing to sacrifice free speech and open dialogue, rights essential for a functioning democracy, to prolong a war on drugs that was lost before it started. The reason that I was not surprised to hear of this is a bill currently before the House Judiciary Committee, known as H.R. 1428, the Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act. The provisions of this bill are frightening to anyone who believes in freedom. It is illegal under this act to teach or demonstrate the manufacture of a controlled substance or distribute any information pertaining to the manufacture or use of a controlled substance. This may sound like a good idea at first, until you consider the many possible ways of interpreting this ban on speech. It would be illegal to warn people of possible deadly combinations of drugs. Health teachers would go to jail for telling their students about dangerous rave drugs that should be avoided. Medical marijuana clubs would be shut down; newspapers couldn't print pictures or articles on drug-ravaged people. Even fictional accounts of drug abuse would be forbidden. Allowing the passage of this bill would make it easier for groups like the Syracuse-Onondaga Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission to tell people who disagree with the war on drugs that they are not welcome. This act is a full assault on the right to free speech and should not be passed. The drug war must be ended so that true healing of addicts and our society can take place. Michael Wilson Fabius Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n594/a09.html , http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n675/a02.html , http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n754/a01.html