Pubdate: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 Source: New York Post (NY) Copyright: 2014 Robert Sharpe Contact: http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/letters/letters_editor.htm Website: http://www.nypost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/296 Author: Robert Sharpe Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n025/a03.html Note: Two of two letters NEW LAWS TO STIR THE POT Former Office of National Drug Control Policy official Kevin Sabet's reefer madness revival campaign attempts to expand the drug war by marrying the prison industrial complex to shady for-profit treatment providers ("Pot Prohibitionists' Pathetic Points," Jacob Sullum, Post Opinion, Jan. 8). There is an unmet need for substance abuse treatment. Problem drug-users who are motivated to quit cannot get help when they need it. No one benefits when scarce treatment slots are filled with casual marijuana users. Just like adults who drink an occasional glass of wine, the vast majority of marijuana users don't need treatment. Some have substance abuse problems stemming from traumatic life experiences, but the last thing they need is Big Brother testing their bodily fluids and threatening jail time. The war on marijuana is a cultural inquisition, not an evidence-based public health campaign. Robert Sharpe Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, DC - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D