Pubdate: Tue, 08 Feb 2011
Source: Marlborough Express (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2011 Independent Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.marlboroughexpress.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1139
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n064/a07.html

CANNABIS USE

Regarding your editorial, ["Sticks and the stoned", Express, February
1], the drug war is largely a war on cannabis consumers.

The punitive approach has done little other than burden otherwise
law-abiding citizens with criminal records.

Consider the experience of the former land of the free and current
record holder in citizens incarcerated. In the United States, police
searches on public transit, drug-sniffing dogs in schools and random
drug testing have led to a loss of civil liberties, while failing
miserably to prevent cannabis use.

Despite zero tolerance, the US has higher rates of cannabis use than
the Netherlands, where cannabis is legally available.

Abject failure has not stopped the US from using its superpower status
to export a dangerous moral crusade around the globe.

The short-term health effects of cannabis are inconsequential compared
with the long-term effects of criminal records.

New Zealand should just say no to the American inquisition.

ROBERT SHARPE, Policy Analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy,
Washington, DC, United States  
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake