Pubdate: Fri, 23 Nov 2001
Source: Oregonian, The (OR)
Copyright: 2001 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1927/a07.html?1225
Author: Harry D. Fisher
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

POT LAWS ABOUT POLITICS, MONEY

Roger Burt's assertion that "Federal drug law is based on science that 
shows marijuana to be highly addictive and without evidence showing it to 
be medically effective or necessary" (Letters, Nov. 16), is untrue.

In 1970, Congress declared that marijuana has no medicinal value as revenge 
for the youth protests against the Vietnam War. The decision was purely 
political and used biased and slanted "research" to justify the repression. 
Since when has Congress been known for its medical expertise?

Since the 1970s, the marijuana prohibition has blossomed into an industry. 
The jihad on marijuana users is a cash cow for the myriad police agencies, 
drug testing companies, privately owned prisons and all the other 
profiteers who are eager to stuff their pockets with our tax money by 
cynically using marijuana prisoners as a commodity, while crying crocodile 
tears about the corruption of "the youth," surely the oldest specious 
accusation in history.

HARRY D. FISHER, Woodland Hills, Calif.
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