Pubdate: Mon, 30 Jan 2006
Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)
Copyright: 2006 The Providence Journal Company
Contact:  http://www.projo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/352
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n015/a05.html
Referenced: The Edward O. Hawkins Medical Marijuana Act 
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/Billtext/BillText05/SenateText05/S0710Aaa.pdf

GRASS IS GREENER ON OTHER SIDE OF THE LAW

Regarding your Jan. 5 editorial "R.I.'s marijuana law": If health 
outcomes determined drug laws, instead of cultural norms, marijuana 
would be legal. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to 
cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties 
of tobacco. Marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are 
inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents.

The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican 
migration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the 
American Medical Association. Dire warnings that marijuana inspired 
homicidal rages proved counterproductive at best: White Americans did 
not even begin to smoke pot until a soon-to-be entrenched government 
bureaucracy began funding "reefer madness" propaganda.

By raiding voter-approved medical-marijuana providers in California, 
the very same U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that claims that 
illicit drug use funds 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.

ROBERT SHARPE

Washington

The writer is a policy analyst for Common Sense for Drug Policy.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman