WAR ON STUDENTS

Regarding your excellent editorial on the Higher Education Act's
denial of student loans to youths convicted of drug offenses ["The
Drug War's Student Fodder," April 27], President George W. Bush would
not be in the White House right now if he had been arrested and denied
student loans because of his "youthful indiscretions."

Let's not kid ourselves. Bush's bizarre waffling on the subject all
but confirms a past history of illicit drug use. Then, again, anyone
born into a wealthy family need not fear the impact of the Higher
Education Act. Instead of empowering at-risk students with a college
degree, the act limits career opportunities and increases the
likelihood that those affected will resort to crime.

The hypocrisy of the drug war is glaring. Alcohol poisoning kills
thousands annually. Tobacco is one of the most addictive substances
known to man. Marijuana, on the other hand, is not physically
addictive and has never been shown to cause an overdose death. If
health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms,
marijuana would be legal. The intergenerational culture war otherwise
known as the War on Drugs is a colossal waste of tax dollars.
Supply-side approaches finance organized crime, while failing
miserably at preventing use.

Taxing and regulating marijuana would separate the hard and soft drug
markets, and eliminate the "gateway" to drugs such as cocaine.
Establishing strict age controls is critical. Right now, kids have an
easier time buying pot than beer.

Drug-policy reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like
to think the children are more important than the message.
Opportunistic, "tough-on-drugs" politicians would no doubt disagree.

ROBERT SHARPE, M.P.A.

Program Officer

The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation

Washington