Pubdate: Wed, 15 Oct 1997
Source: Times-Journal (NY)
Author: Walter F. Wouk

October 1997 marks the 60 year anniversary of the enactment of marijuana
prohibition and it's time for a "reality check."

In 1937 Congress criminalized marijuana after two hearings that totaled one
hour.(1) Dr.  William C. Woodward, appearing on behalf of the American
Medical Association, testified that "There is no evidence that marijuana is
a dangerous drug." He was accused of "trying to throw obstacles in the way
of something that the federal government is trying to do."(2)

Today, despite six decades of prohibition, marijuana is the third most
popular recreational drug of choice in the United States. According to
government figures, nearly 70 million Americans have smoked marijuana at
some point in their lives.(3) Of these, 18.5 million have smoked marijuana
within the past year, and 10 million are regular smokers.(4) The vast
majority of these individuals are otherwise law-abiding citizens who
contribute to the community and raise families. They are not criminals, yet
many of them have become casualties of the War on Marijuana.

Nearly 642,000 total marijuana arrests(5) were made by state and local law
enforcement during 1996, according to the latest edition of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Uniform Crime Report. This figure is an 80
percent increase since 1990 and pushes the total number of marijuana
arrests under the Clinton administration to approximately 2.1 million. The
1996 yearly arrest total for marijuana violations is the highest ever
recorded by the FBI.

Presently, law enforcement arrests a marijuana smoker every 54 seconds.
Because of harsh federal and state penalties, marijuana offenders today may
be sentenced to lengthy jail terms. Even those who avoid incarceration are
subject to an array of additional punishments, including loss of driver’s
license (even where the offense is not driving related), loss of
occupational license, loss of child custody, loss of federal benefits and
removal from public housing. Under state and federal forfeiture laws, many
suspected marijuana offenders lose their cars, cash, boats, land, business
equipment and houses.

In 1937 the government outlawed marijuana, even though there was no
evidence that it was a dangerous drug. 60 years later the government is
still unable to cite one credible scientific study that proves marijuana is
dangerous. Reason dictates that it’s time that the government find
something better "to do" than wage war on marijuana use.

Walter F. Wouk