Pubdate: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 Source: Burnaby Now, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.burnabynow.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1592 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1764/a12.html Author: Robert Sharpe Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) DRUG LAWS HARMFUL Editor, Your Sept. 19 editorial on the Senate's proposal to end marijuana makes the mistake of assuming that punitive marijuana laws actually deter use. After months of research, the Senate concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, marijuana prohibition contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns of use. Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current record holder in citizens incarcerated. The steady rise in police searches on public transit, drug-sniffing dogs in schools, and random drug testing have led to a loss of civil liberties in the United States, while failing miserably at preventing drug marijuana. Based on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health interventions, a majority of European Union countries have decriminalized marijuana. Despite marijuana prohibition, and perhaps because of forbidden fruit appeal, lifetime use of marijuana is higher in the U.S. than any European country. The latest drug war fiasco to come out of the U.S. is 'compassionate coercion.' This expansion of zero tolerance does not distinguish between occasional use and chronic abuse. Jail sentences and open-ended drug testing are applied exclusively to consumers of non-traditional drugs like marijuana. Alcoholics and tobacco smokers need not fear President George W. Bush's legendary "compassion." Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. Unfortunately, marijuana represents the counterculture to misguided reactionaries intent on legislating their version of morality. Canada should follow the lead of Europe and Just Say No to the American Inquisition. Robert Sharpe, program officer, Drug Policy Alliance, Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl