GRASS WARFARE

Kudos to Adamma Ince for her article "Greener Pastures" [Back to School
Supplement, August 29]. It highlighted the greatest failure of the United
States' War on Drugs: Kids have an easier time buying illegal drugs than
beer. Unless I'm mistaken, New York's drug delivery services do not ID
students for age. Let's not kid ourselves--marijuana laws protect law
enforcement jobs and political careers, not children. Marijuana prohibition
is no more effective at preventing use than alcohol prohibition was at
preventing drinking.

There is nothing inherent in marijuana that compels users to try harder
drugs. But its black-market status puts users in contact with criminals who
push stronger substances. Current drug policy is the gateway to other
drugs--not marijuana use.

Critics say legalizing marijuana for adults will send the wrong message to
children, but I think that the children are more important than the message.

Robert Sharpe
Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Washington, D.C