Pubdate: Thu, 19 Apr 2007
Source: Wisconsin State Journal (WI)
Copyright: 2007 Madison Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.madison.com/wsj/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/506
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n457/a04.html
Author: Fred Wehman

RACISM IS BEHIND TODAY'S U.S. POT LAWS

Drug laws are racist, and the proof is in the number of blacks in
prison. Marijuana became illegal when blacks started smoking it at the
jazz clubs in New Orleans years ago.

Drug laws in this country will not change until the World War II
generation is gone because of the propaganda such as "reefer madness"
that brainwashed so many Americans. Politicians today know the truth
about marijuana, but if they become pro-marijuana, they risk losing
the vote of the generation that made the United States the great
country it is and risk being voted out of office.

America is made up mostly of people of European descent, where beer
and alcohol is the drug of choice. People die from alcohol use every
day, but I don't know of anyone who died from pot. I am a quadriplegic
and I find great benefit in using marijuana for nausea, muscle spasms
and so on. But I'm told it's just a ploy to legalize it.

So as long as we have people like Don Imus to take the fall every once
in a while, America looks like it cares about racism. But the truth is
hidden in the drug laws. When the World War II generation dies off and
we truly deal with racism, then maybe marijuana can become legal.

Fred Wehman, New Lisbon
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