Pubdate: Sun, 8 Aug 2010
Source: Indiana Daily Student (IN Edu)
Copyright: 2010 Robert Sharpe
Contact:  http://www.idsnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1319
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n623/a02.html
Author: Robert Sharpe

TIME TO FACE FACTS ON DRUG POLICY

If health outcomes, instead of cultural norms, determined drug laws,
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.

Marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are inappropriate
health interventions and ineffective 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 intergenerational culture war
otherwise known as the war on some drugs should contact Students for
Sensible Drug Policy at www.SchoolsNotPrisons.com

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy