Pubdate: Wed, 31 Mar 2004
Source: Sentinel, The (GA Edu)
Copyright: 2004 Kennesaw State University
Contact:  http://www.ksusentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2908
Author: Joel Guerra, Viewpoints Columnist
Cited: http://www.ssdp.org

THE BIG DRUG QUESTION

"....I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face
of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree
yielding seed; to you it shall be for food." ~ Genesis 1:29

OK, for anyone who has taken a Critical Thinking class, let's break
this down. According to the Bible, God has created EVERY herb yielding
seed on the face of ALL the earth for the consumption of human beings.

Marijuana would definitely be classified in this category.

So couldn't deductive reasoning tell us that Marijuana was, according
to the Bible, put here for the consumption of human beings?

If somewhere later on it says something against this, then the Bible
would be contradicting itself right?

Now, if God created Marijuana, and people say Marijuana is bad, or
like the ads say "more dangerous than we thought," couldn't we say
that God's creation is bad or that some of God's creations are "more
dangerous than we thought?" Just something to think about.

I am personally in favor of the decriminalization of ALL drugs, be it
heroin, crack, methamphetamines, or cocaine.

It simply makes no sense to me to throw millions of tax dollars into
something that is unstoppable. I think that people have the right to
put whatever chemicals they like into their bodies even if it causes
harm. Take for instance a bottle of bleach, a dangerous substance if
consumed by human beings.

It is quite possible that a child could pick up a bottle of bleach and
drink it, possibly killing the child. Why then isn't bleach illegal?

Because we rely on parents rather than the government to make sure
that the child has the common knowledge and is conditioned not to
drink the bleach.

Why can't this same method of prevention be taken when dealing with
America's drug problems?

If some idiot wants to consume mass quantities of crack, I fail to see
why my tax dollars should pay to keep the person alive to do more
crack, wasting more of my tax dollars.

It's as if the government assumes we are stupid.

We can teach kids not to drink bleach, but we can't teach them to not
smoke crack. That is simply insulting to the intelligence of the
general public. If a child dies from drinking bleach what would be the
first question someone asks? Where were their parents?

Somewhere along the line this same method gets lost when dealing with
dangerous drugs.

Personal responsibility takes a back seat to government
intervention.

The government even tries to sell us myths in order to justify the
drug war insanity. Hell, if I could make a lucrative amount of cash
selling myths without people questioning them, it might be hard for me
to stop selling myths also. It is completely beyond me as to why the
same people who criticize drug decriminalization are the same ones who
drink caffeine filled colas, smoke cigarettes, take diet pills, drink
alcohol, or drink coffee-all legal drugs.

But don't just take my word for it - try this: drink 4 cups of coffee
each day for 3 weeks, then stop suddenly and see how spectacular you
feel. Do the same with bottles of Coke. I am so sick and tired of
hearing people that think the use of Marijuana should be justified by
explaining the health benefits.

Can someone tell me exactly what health benefits come with cigarettes,
coffee, Coca-cola, and alcohol?

I always wonder why the news media doesn't talk about the fact that
the percentage rates of Marijuana use among young adolescents in the
Netherlands is lower than American youths of the same age? How come we
never hear of countries like Canada, Denmark, England and Switzerland
moving towards more decriminalization measures while America lags behind?

For the non-believers, this scientific evidence comes from the book,
"Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts" by Dr. Lynn Zimmer and John P.
Morgan. In it are the myths and the scientific evidence that disproves
the myths.

Check www.bizrate.com and get an inexpensive copy to see for
yourself.

I think Dr. Felix Gutzwiller of Zurich University's Institute for
Social and Preventative Medicines said it best, "Our drug policy has
to be based on evidence rather than adventure." Here's what
decriminalization will more than likely do: put the drug dealers out
of business.

If people can trade drugs amongst themselves, prices will plummet, and
there would be no need for a highly paid drug dealer who is willing to
risk jail. Gang related violence would decrease, as there would be no
product to trade illegally with such fierce competition.

Decriminalization or not, the heroin addicts will probably die,
because nothing will stop them from getting their drug. Who wants a
heroin addict around their kids anyway?

I don't! If heroin is decriminalized, at least citizens won't have to
pay for all the legal and incarceration fees associated with a drug
arrest.

As for the Marijuana users, as long as they keep it in their home,
don't try to sell to kids, and do not threaten the social environment,
I say go right ahead.

As for those who say drug decriminalization will turn most people into
addicts, by that logic, most people should be chain smokers and
alcoholics, which is simply not the case. Drug abuse needs to be
treated as a health/psychological problem with emphasis on
rehabilitation rather than a criminal problem with jail sentences.
Want to know how to get involved with stopping America's drug
insanity? Go to www.ssdp.org, or read more facts on America's drug
fight failure at www.lp.org. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake