DRUG WAR LIES

After reading your editorial criticizing federal authorities for lying in
their propaganda efforts in Afghanistan, "Truth's a better weapon in the
information war" (Jan. 7, 2002), I could not help but be struck by the
similarities in federal tactics used in the failed war on drugs.

In that case, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy has
been running an expensive, taxpayer-funded advertising campaign for several
years now that attempts to curb drug use by engaging in the same types of
hyperbole and misinformation used in the Afghan campaign.

The cornerstone of this disinformation campaign is lying about marijuana.

Marijuana is one of the most studied substances, yet all this research has
been unable to document the claims by federal authorities that it is
harmful. And while marijuana remains federally classified as a Schedule I
drug with no medical uses, alcohol and tobacco are explicitly exempt from
being scheduled, despite their high potential for abuse.

Medical marijuana is kept from the sick and dying using the excuse that
legalizing access would send a bad message to the children. But children
are not stupid, and can easily see the through the hypocrisy that keeps
drugs like alcohol and tobacco legal, along with numerous prescription
drugs with a high potential for abuse, while banning a humble God-given
herb with 15,000 years of non-toxic use by humans.

As your editorial noted, "truth ... will serve us well". The government
should try sticking with the truth. Credibility is a terrible thing to
waste,whether at home or abroad.

Gary Storck

Madison