BUSH IS HYPOCRITICAL IN ENFORCING DRUG POLICY REGARDING STUDENT LOANS

To the Editor:

Regarding the Higher Education Act's denial of student loans to youth
convicted of drug offenses, President George W. Bush would not be in the
White House right now if he had been arrested and denied student loans
due to 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, HEA 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 drug war 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 like 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, Program Officer, The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy
Foundation