Pubdate: Sun, 20 Jul 2003
Source: The Dominion Post (WV)
Copyright: 2003 The Dominion Post
Contact:  http://www.dominionpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1426
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1062/a02.html
Author: Bruce Mirken
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

U.S. DRUG LAWS ARE RUINING AMERICAN LIVES

Molly Ivins was right to describe U.S. drug policy as "odd" and 
"tragicomic" ("Fear of crack worse than drug itself," July 13). But things 
are even worse than she described.

Arrests for possession of marijuana -- a drug that has never, ever caused a 
fatal overdose and which has been repeatedly shown to be less addictive 
than tobacco and alcohol -- soared past 640,000 in both 2000 and 2001. 
While White House Drug Czar John Walt ers continues to crank up the "reefer 
madness" hysteria, other nations -- Canada, Great Britain and Belgium are 
among the latest -- have taken a sober look at the scientific data and 
moved toward ending arrests for marijuana possession.

Last September, the Canadian Senate issued the most exhaustive study ever 
done of marijuana and marijuana policy. Its report concluded that marijuana 
prohibition "amounts to throwing taxpayers' money down the drain in a 
crusade that is not warranted by the danger posed by the substance."

Someday such common sense will prevail here, but not before current 
policies destroy thousands more lives.

Bruce Mirken, Director of Communications, Marijuana Policy Project, 
Washington, D.C.
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