Pubdate: Sat, 19 Jan 2002 Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV) Copyright: 2002 Charleston Daily Mail Contact: http://www.dailymail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76 Author: Stanley D White Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n005/a07.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act) RICH-KID DRUGGIES WILL GET INTO COLLEGE I respond to the Daily Mail's Jan. 2 editorial, "College: Those who sell drugs should not get federal aid." For simple cannabis possession, and not limited to "dealers," the ban most certainly discriminates against poor people, because rich kids don't seek loans and grants. It discriminates by offering grant privileges to murderers, rapists and violent criminals, yet punishes a simple cannabis infraction. It discriminates against millions of responsible cannabis users who are tired of the government deceit directed toward them. Discrimination further allows the law to label as dealers people who simply are not, so to offer forfeiture of assets to police departments, etc. The editorial staff, comfortable with allowing grants to violent murderers and rapists, but not cannabis consumers, should reconsider its stance. The war on some plants and drugs is more like a freak show. The major accomplishment is a bigger Al Capone known as Osama bin Laden, financed by our own ignorance. Stanley D. White, Dillon, Colo. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager