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  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D