Pubdate: Thu,10 Oct 2002
Source: Tucson Citizen (AZ)
Copyright: 2002 Tucson Citizen
Contact:  http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/461
Author:     Kirk Muse

ANTI-MARIJUANA EFFORT IS A BUST

I agree with drug czar John Walters' spokeswoman Jennifer de Vallance, that 
"Voters should consider the facts when they're at the polls this November."

They should consider the fact that in the 5,000 year history of its use, 
marijuana has never been documented to kill a single person.

They should consider the fact that last year there were almost 750,000 
arrests for marijuana violations and 88 percent of those arrests were for 
simple possession.

They should consider the fact that the United States, with fewer than 5 
percent of the world's population, has greater than 25 percent of the 
world's prisoners - thanks primarily to our counterproductive war on users 
of certain drugs.

They should consider the fact that no matter how much money we throw at the 
problem, we cannot nullify the basic economic law of supply and demand.

They should consider the fact that marijuana is the backbone of our drug 
prohibition policies, and it has been a total disaster.

They should consider the fact that the states that spend the most on 
prisons tend to spend the least on education.

They should consider the fact that drug czar John Walters has a vested 
financial interest is continuing our counterproductive drug prohibition 
policies.

Kirk Muse

Mesa