Pubdate: Sun, 10 Feb 2002 Source: New Haven Register (CT) Copyright: 2002, New Haven Register Contact: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1281 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/292 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n200/a03.html?1709 Author: Ned Pocengal Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) TALK EXPOSED FAILURE OF 'WAR' Bravo to Clifford Thornton, who spoke at Branford High School, for exposing the drug war for what it is: a miserable failure. Alcohol prohibition was ended, in part, because it completely failed to meet one of its proponents' most dubious claims: that prohibition protects young people. Similarly, today's drug war is responsible for most of the damage attributed to currently illegal drugs. One need only look at Connecticut's prison population for evidence of the drug war's massive failure. Drug abuse is a medical problem; drug-related gangs and shootings are problems caused by prohibition. The Branford High students must have found Thornton's arguments very refreshing after being inundated with pro-drug war propaganda. Ned Pocengal, New Haven - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl