Pubdate: Sun, 15 Feb 2009
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2009 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Robert Sharpe
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk.

MARIJUANA PROHIBITION IS BUILT ON LIES

Olympian Michael Phelps is in good company. The list of professional 
athletes caught using marijuana is long. Could it be that drug 
warriors have been lying about marijuana's health impact? They've 
definitely been lying about the deterrent value of marijuana 
prohibition. The United States has higher rates of marijuana use than 
the Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available to adults over 
18. Marijuana prohibition is built on lies, beginning with the reefer 
madness myths of the 1930s and continuing to this day with U.S. 
government anti-drug propaganda masquerading as science. As an 
admitted former pot smoker, U.S. President Barack Obama no doubt 
knows the truth about marijuana. Truthfully, marijuana is easily the 
least-harmful recreational drug, legal or otherwise. If health 
outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana 
would be legal. The question is whether Obama brings change to U.S. 
marijuana laws or continues to subsidize the prejudices of culture warriors.

Robert Sharpe

(Prohibition has never worked and never will.)
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom