Pubdate: Mon, 25 Oct 2010 Source: USA Today (US) Page: A10 Copyright: 2010 John Chase Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/625HdBMl Website: http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/index.htm Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/466 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n854/a04.html Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n854/a05.html Author: John Chase TREAT DRUG ABUSE AS HEALTH ISSUE, NOT A CRIME Whatever happened to the idea of trying out new ideas in the "laboratory of the states"? It is a concept often mentioned in U.S. Supreme Court proceedings in contentious issues such as the right to die and abortion. Prohibitionists would have us believe that the Controlled Substances Act is "settled law." It might have been settled a few years ago, but not now, and certainly not in California. The U.S. Department of Justice should leave California alone to try its experiment with regulation. It would be enlightening for us all. John Chase Palm Harbor, Fla. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake