Pubdate: Fri, 05 Jun 2009
Source: Daily, The (U of WA, Edu)
Copyright: 2009 The Daily
Contact:  http://www.thedaily.washington.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1254
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n568/a10.html
Note: Title by newshawk

JAIL CELLS ARE INAPPROPRIATE

In response to "What's the worst that could happen: Marijuana is 
legalized," by Jackson Rohrbaugh. May 28:

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 federal 
bureaucracy began funding reefer madness propaganda.

Marijuana prohibition has failed miserably as a deterrent. The United 
States has higher rates of marijuana use than the Netherlands, where 
marijuana is legally available to adults over 18. Students who want 
to help end the inter-generational culture war otherwise known as the 
"war on some drugs" should contact Students for Sensible Drug Policy 
at Schoolsnotprisons.com.

Robert Sharpe

Policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom