Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jan 2003
Source: Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO)
Copyright: 2003, Denver Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.rockymountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371
Author: Ken Gorman

STAUNCH ALLY STARTING TO QUESTION DRUG WAR

I keep seeing the daily (hourly?) advertisments by the Office of National 
Drug Control Policy claiming that drug money supports terrorism and have 
always wondered, "What if there were no drug war?" Now, it seems, others 
are asking that same question.

Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., has been one of the drug war's staunchest allies 
for the last 30 years, but in a recent hearing where the CIA was asking for 
more money to combat heroin production in Colombia, he asked the question 
again. Even more surprising was his query as to "Why, when we throw more 
money at this problem, do we end up with more illegal drugs in the U.S.?"

For those of you terrified that a new era of freedom has started to emerge, 
don't fret - our government has called upon the prosecutors of this land to 
step up their attacks on marijuana users. Apparently, our status of being 
No. 1 in the world for imprisoning its citizens is being challenged by 
someone, somewhere, so going after the pot smokers will solidify our 
ranking. Besides, the prison industry is only No. 2 in this state. Surely 
we have a couple of billion extra to make it No. 1.

Ken Gorman

Denver
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