Pubdate: Thu, 03 Mar 2005
Source: Salt Lake City Weekly (UT)
Copyright: 2005 Copperfield Publishing
Contact:  http://www.slweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/382
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/bush.htm (Bush, George)

DRUGS VS. DRUG WAR

Bill Frost's column was right on target ["News You Can Lose," Frost Bytes, 
Feb. 24, City Weekly]. Rather than worry that his past marijuana use may 
inspire kids to try pot, President George W. Bush might want to consider 
the effect of the zero tolerance drug war on the very same youth he sought 
to shield from the truth.

According to the Monitoring the Future survey, more than half of all high 
school seniors have tried an illicit drug.

Denying a majority of the nation's youth an education is not in America's 
best interest.

Most students outgrow their youthful indiscretions. An arrest and criminal 
record, on the other hand, can be life shattering. After admitting to 
smoking pot (but not inhaling), former President Clinton opened himself up 
to "soft on drugs" criticism.

Thanks to the Doug Wead tapes, it's now clear that President Bush is also 
politically vulnerable when it comes to drugs. While youthful indiscretions 
didn't stop Clinton or Bush from assuming leadership positions, an arrest 
surely would have. The short-term health effects of marijuana are 
inconsequential compared to the long-term effects of criminal records. Drug 
abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe

Common Sense For Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.
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