Pubdate: Sun, 22 Sep 2002
Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)
Contact:  2002 Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Website: http://www.starbulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/196
Author: Spike Bradford
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

ADULTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE PAKALOLO 

The federal government's stance on marijuana prohibition has nothing to do
with science, experience or rationality. Several government-funded studies
have found it to be relatively benign, and recommend decriminalization. Also
ignored are the millions of Americans who have been smoking pot for decades
without serious physical or mental damage. Those who deal with intoxicated
folks -- cops, bartenders and others -- will tell you that compared to the
drunk, the crackhead or the meth user, a pot smoker is rarely troublesome.

Worst of all is using "child safety" as a scare tactic for maintaining
prohibition. This tactic works well with parents, much as it did during
alcohol Prohibition and the Red Scare, despite its being untrue.
Legalization has nothing to do with children. It is about respecting civil
liberties and allowing responsible adults to engage in consensual
activities. We let adults drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, drive cars, have
elective surgery and own firearms, and we work to prevent youth from doing
the same. Why not treat marijuana the same way? 

Spike Bradford
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk