Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jan 2008
Source: Pantagraph, The  (Bloomington, IL)
Copyright: 2008 Pantagraph Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.pantagraph.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/643
Author: Josh Lillie

MAKING MARIJUANA ILLEGAL CAUSES MORE PROBLEMS

Free people of America, I feel it is time for an appraisal of one of 
our great nation's most futile endeavors, the failed prohibition of marijuana.

Time and again, we've seen prominent and respected members of 
communities labeled criminals for choosing to disregard archaic 
legislation and exercise their perceived freedoms in private.

Proponents of this prohibition quickly judge and utter "it's 
illegal," never stopping to ask why or to address the consequences of 
banning a harmless drug that nearly 10 percent of Americans openly 
admit to using.

Despite noble efforts, the so-called "war on drugs" has not stemmed 
America's appetite for pot or any other drug. The collateral damage, 
however, has not been so passive.

Our prison population is the largest on the planet, and nearly a 
quarter of the inmates are serving time for non-violent drug offenses.

And since the demand for this illegal product has failed to decline 
and there is an endless supply of people ready to make money off of 
it, this imprisonment has had no effect except to burden the taxpayer.

Our senseless government makes billions off the taxation of alcohol 
and tobacco, substances which dwarf the health concerns of marijuana. 
And with marijuana illegal, in every sense, all profits go to 
international criminals and their corrupt political counterparts.

Left in this wake are crumbling governments and their desperate 
citizens who flee across the border to become our infamous illegal aliens.

Free people of America, I implore you to set aside your bitter 
perceptions, ask questions and demand answers.  Educate yourself, and 
learn to distinguish fact from propaganda, and truth from lies. It is 
time to end this failed prohibition, and give Americans back the 
freedom to do what they wish in the privacy of their own homes.

Josh Lillie

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