Pubdate: Mon, 09 Sep 2002
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2002 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: John Frangquist

FOOLISH ARGUMENTS

Editor -- Drug czar John P. Walters' op-ed (Open Forum, Sept. 1) attacking 
marijuana use is a laughingstock. First, he bemoans marijuana's increased 
potency -- as if the existence of vodka alongside beer made alcohol more 
dangerous. Then, he notes a "260 percent" increase in adolescent "admissions."

Admissions to what? Treatment? Hospitals? He deftly fails to mention actual 
numbers (instead of percentage increases) because they would show 
alcohol-and-tobacco-related health problems to be far more numerous.

Then, he winds his way through a battery of quotes (from the Academy of 
Sciences). Yet, he so obviously takes things out of context, it makes you 
wonder. It would appear that the drug czar's job is now to produce 
arguments that fool fewer people less of the time.

JOEL FRANGQUIST

San Francisco
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MAP posted-by: Beth