Pubdate: Wed, 19 Mar 2003
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2003 The Register-Guard
Contact:  http://www.registerguard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362
Author: Geth Noble
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n380/a07.html

DEA CRACKDOWN LACKS LOGIC

I was shocked to read in the March 9 Register-Guard about the federal Drug 
Enforcement Administration's arrest of two Eugene glass blowers. 
Persecution of artists is a hallmark of totalitarian regimes. The DEA's 
pretext of stamping out drug paraphernalia is ludicrous - apples, pop cans, 
syringes, spoons, light bulbs, mirrors and dollar bills are all commonly 
used in the consumption of illegal drugs. Shall we arrest everyone who 
produces these items?

It's highly ironic that the glass pipes in question can also be used to 
smoke tobacco, a highly addictive and carcinogenic drug whose production 
has been subsidized by the federal government. Tobacco paraphernalia is 
also commonly used to smoke marijuana - the DEA's logic dictates that all 
producers of cigarette lighters, rolling papers, matches and tobacco pipes 
must now be imprisoned.

There is no logic or reason behind this most recent manifestation of the 
war on drugs in Eugene. It is pure tyranny, a glaring symptom of the 
decline of our alleged American democracy. It is the height of hypocrisy 
for our government to be fomenting war abroad in the name of democracy 
while actively dismantling democracy at home. We need regime change!

Geth Noble, Florence
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MAP posted-by: Alex