Pubdate: Thu, 17 May 2001
Source: Brazosports Facts, The (TX)
Section: Opinions, Voice of The People
Copyright: 2001 The Facts
Contact:  www.thefacts.com
Address: P.O. Box 549, Clute, TX 77531
Phone: (800) 864-8340
Fax: (409) 265-7885
Author: Steve Helms

U.N. HAS CLEAR VIEW OF DRUG PROBLEM

I am glad the U.N. kicked the U.S. off of the International Narcotics 
Control Board. The world body is rejecting the failed U.S. approach to 
fighting the war on drugs. Instead of trying some enlightened methods, such 
as those in Europe where drug use is less prevalent than in the U.S., we 
continue to use the same old tactics that don't work and would like to 
spread these same tactics globally.

I am not surprised that the U.N. removed the U.S. from the Human Rights 
Commission either. We have more people in prison than anyone else in the 
world (largely due to drug policy), we routinely weaken or ignore our own 
constitutional rights to further the war on drugs, we selectively target 
and incarcerate drug possession cases based on race and have harsh 
penalties for drug possession that often do not reflect the actual harm 
associated with the drugs involved.

Doctors do not adequately treat those in pain out of fear of the DEA. And 
unlike other countries, at the federal level, we refuse to even look at the 
medicinal properties of marijuana.

The U.S. government continues to use propaganda, rather than facts, to 
garner support for continuing to fight a war against its own citizens.

Fortunately, the world body has a clearer picture of the actual facts.

I say good for the U.N.!

Steve Helms
Southlake
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