California surprised the nation last week by approving a medical marijuana
proposition.

Despite the chorus of drug war hawks, including California Attorney General
Dan Lungren's prophesies of outright anarchy, voters decided there was no
sense in arresting patients who believe marijuana helps relieve their
condition, or their doctors.

Between this and Californians' rejection of a prison bond proposition, it
appears our zest for incarceration may be waning.

Arizona approved an even broader drug reform initiative. Despite the
huffings and puffings of Gov. Fife Symington, who threatens an
unprecedented veto of a citizen initiative approved by a 30-point margin,
it appears that Arizona will be "medicalizing" its drug policy. Most
nonviolent drug possession convicts will be sent to drug treatment rather
than prison. Money Raved will be spent on youth drug education projects.
On a national level, Bob Dole discovered that drug war hoopla failed to
rouse the electorate. Polls taken in the heat of Dole's "Just don't do it"
blitz registered surprising indifference among voters.

For years, drug war support has been one of the constants in American
politics. As a result, politicians raised the stakes every time they
campaigned. Inevitably, they went too far, and the American people are now
asking for a correction.

The next time politicians decide to dump more money into oversized prison
sentences for nonviolent drug offenses, they will have to think twice about
the reaction of their constituency.

Tom Hawkins
Grand Coulee