Pubdate: Thu, 02 Dec 2004
Source: Trail Blazer, The (KY)
Copyright: 2004 The Trail Blazer
Contact:  http://www.trailblazeronline.net/frontpage.php
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3599
Author: Teena Blackburn
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUG ROUNDUP WAS PR STUNT, WRITER SAYS

As a student and adjunct faculty member here on campus, I feel compelled to 
write in response to the recent drug arrests. Personally, I remain opposed 
to the so-called "war on drugs," which I see mainly as a war on our own 
people.  As we know, many drugs can be harmful or fatal, and addiction is a 
terrible thing.  However, it seems to me that we would do better to treat 
it as a health problem rather than a legal one.

Furthermore, we have harmful, legalized drugs in our culture -- see smoking 
and alcoholism.  As far as I know, there is no lethal dose of marijuana for 
humans, and the fact that a lot of these charges were for dealing pot 
strikes me as surreal -- especially given the amount of drinking I see here 
at MSU.  We could do so much as a community if we addressed issues 
preventively rather than punitively.

I am especially distressed at the media circus aspect of this whole 
operation. I was told a student opened his door to find the press there to 
record his arrest.  Frankly, this lends the suspicious air of a PR stunt to 
the whole thing.  I cannot imagine what good could come from  having these 
young people's names and faces splattered all over the media.  I heard 
Madonna Weathers on the radio saying that she hoped this would help the 
young people get their lives together.  I would like to know how a felony 
drug conviction accomplishes that when you can lose financial aid, housing 
and other benefits.

No one wants to see people addicted to dangerous drugs, and no one wants to 
see young people die, but to talk about marijuana in the same way as 
cocaine or heroin is nonsense and the students know this.  It undermines 
the credibility of the effort to discourage drug use. There are lots of 
good reasons not to smoke pot, and we can give those without being punitive 
or engaging in hyperbole.  (We might note that DARE has been completely 
discredited on this point).

President Bush's niece got arrested on several drug counts, including 
forging prescriptions.  Funny though, she got treatment rather than prison. 
I hope the young people just arrested get the same considerations.

Teena Blackburn, MSU Student, Adjunct Faculty Member
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D