Pubdate: Sun, 09 Feb 2003
Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO)
Copyright: 2003 Columbia Daily Tribune
Contact:  http://www.showmenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/91
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n143/a09.html

MONEY IS BEHIND REASON NOT TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Editor, the Tribune:

Scott Holste, spokesman for Attorney General Jay Nixon, is absolutely right 
about the many challenges that would be faced by a proposed Columbia 
ordinance that seeks to legalize marijuana for medicinal use and make 
possession of small amounts of marijuana a municipal offense. The goal of a 
"drug free" America that politicians in Washington claim to be working 
toward 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 Food and Drug 
Administration, while marijuana, which has been used medicinally for 
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 helps fund terrorism 
is forcing cancer and AIDS patients into the hands of street dealers. 
Apparently, marijuana prohibition is more important than protecting the 
country from terrorism. Meanwhile, children as young as 2 are routinely 
prescribed Ritalin, a prescription amphetamine similar to cocaine in 
effect. So much for protecting children from drugs. One need only follow 
the money trail to find out why a given policy exists.

Robert Sharpe
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom