Pubdate: Wed, 19 Mar 2008
Source: Gamecock, The (SC Edu)
Copyright: 2008 The Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina
Contact: http://www.dailygamecock.com/home/lettertotheeditor/
Website: http://www.dailygamecock.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2319
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n292/a09.html

MARIJUANA PROHIBITION TAKES OVER DRUG WAR

Regarding Thomas Moore's March 17 column, "Drug stances dominated by
previous conceptions," the drug war is in large part a war on
marijuana, by far the most popular illicit drug. 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. Like any
drug, 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
immigration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the
American Medical Association. Dire warnings that marijuana inspires
homicidal rages have been 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 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,

Arlington, VA
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