Pubdate: Wed, 1 Jan 2003 Source: Los Altos Town Crier (CA) Copyright: 2003 The Town Crier Company Inc. Contact: http://www.losaltosonline.com/latc.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/245 Author: Robert Sharpe, M.P.A., http://www.mapinc.org/writers/Robert+Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2288/a10.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) FEDS NEED TO STAY AWAY FROM MARIJUANA Your Dec. 18 article on the trials and tribulations of medical marijuana patient Susan Gaskill underscored the need for a state regulated system free from federal intrusion. Marijuana prohibition itself should be subjected to a cost-benefit analysis. Unfortunately, a review of marijuana legislation would open up a Pandora's box most politicians would just as soon avoid. America's marijuana laws are based on culture and xenophobia, not science. The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican migration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the American Medical Association. White Americans did not even begin to smoke marijuana until a soon-to-be entrenched government bureaucracy began funding reefer madness propaganda. Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been counterproductive at best. An estimated 38% of Americans have now smoked pot. The reefer madness myths have long been discredited, forcing the drug war gravy train to spend millions of tax dollars on politicized research, trying to find harm in a relatively harmless plant. California patients may be protected, but medical marijuana providers aren't. By conducting paramilitary raids on voter-approved medical marijuana clubs, the very same Drug Enforcement Administration that claims illicit drug use funds terrorism is forcing cancer and AIDS patients into the hands of street dealers. Apparently federal marijuana laws are more important than protecting the country from terrorism. Robert Sharpe, M.P.A. Program Officer Drug Policy Alliance Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk