Pubdate: Thu, 12 Dec 2002
Source: Vail Trail, The (CO)
Copyright: 2002 The Vail Trail
Contact:  http://www.vailtrail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2697
Author:  Robert Sharpe
Note: Website suggests using Comment popup from online article to Write the 
Editor
Note: Titled by newshawk
Referenced:  http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2223/a03.html

VIAGRA'S ALREADY KILLED MORE THAN MARIJUANA

Dear Editor, Please consider publishing the following brief letter:

Tom Boyd's tongue-in-cheek Dec. 6th column underscored the hypocrisy of the 
war on some drugs. The goal of a "drug-free" America that so many 
politicians claim to be working towards applies only to certain drugs. 
Specifically, natural drugs that cannot be patented by the pharmaceutical 
industry, one of Washington's most powerful lobbies.

New lifestyle drugs are routinely granted approval by the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration, while marijuana, which has a history of documented 
medical use that dates back thousands of years, allegedly requires further 
research. Despite a relatively brief period on the market, the blatantly 
recreational drug Viagra has already killed more people than marijuana, a 
relatively harmless plant that has never been shown to cause an overdose death.

By raiding California's voter-approved medical marijuana clubs, the very 
same federal government that claims illicit drug use funds terrorism is 
forcing cancer and AIDS patients into the hands of street dealers. 
Meanwhile, children as young as 2-years-old are routinely prescribed 
Ritalin, a prescription amphetamine similar to cocaine in effects. So much 
for protecting the children from drugs. One need only follow the money 
trail to find out why a given policy exists.

Please feel free to edit and publish. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Robert Sharpe,

M.P.A. Program Officer Drug Policy Alliance http://www.drugpolicy.org/
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens