Pubdate: Thu, 17 Feb 2000
Source: The Daily Texan
Contact:  http://stumedia.tsp.utexas.edu/webtexan/today/
Author: Jeremy Thompson
Related: The editorial is at:
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n217/a03.html

PROHIBITION REVISITED

Kudos to Brian Dupre for his thoughtful editorial titled "New Strategy For 
War On Drugs" (2/16/00). I have been critical of The Texan's coverage of 
the War on SOME Drugs, and it is refreshing to see some balance. Mr. 
Dupre's insight is correct, this nation's War on SOME Drugs is a failure, 
even if the government's propaganda says otherwise.

Recently, the U.K. drug tsar, Keith Hellawell, and Cabinet member, Mo 
Mowlam, acknowledged that their own U.S.-style War on SOME Drugs is not the 
best way to go. These two outspoken politicos have called for a 
liberalization of cannabis laws in the U.K. Perhaps the U.S. and the U.K. 
should look to the Dutch model as a working example of a beneficial harm 
reduction plan. The current U.S. War on SOME Drugs is largely based on 
misinformation that has been propagated since the early 20th century. It is 
time that the people of this great nation stand up to the oppressive forces 
and demand that public policy be based on fact rather than fiction. The 
governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, has already taken a great step 
forward by publicly admitting that the U.S. War on SOME Drugs is a failure 
based on misinformation and propaganda.

There is a difference between responsible drug use and drug abuse. No one 
is advocating drug abuse, just as no one is advocating the sale of drugs to 
children. U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey makes the anti-prohibition 
movement sound like they want drugs in junior-high vending machines. This 
is simply not the case. Responsible adult Americans can use drugs 
responsibly. This has been proven time and time again.

Alcohol prohibition failed for this reason. The most commonly used drug in 
America, caffeine, is not prohibited because people can use it responsibly. 
After all, Texas' favorite son, George W., committed "youthful 
indiscretions" which, in all likelihood, amounts to drug use. He was not 
imprisoned for his use. Similarly, current drug users should not be 
imprisoned for their use. This is a health issue, not a criminal one.

Thanks again to the Texan staff for the coverage of an anti-prohibition issue.

Jeremy R. Thompson
UT alum, 1997
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake