MARIJUANA LAWS MISS THE MARK

Editor, The Citizen: Regarding your Jan. 20 editorial: If health
outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms marijuana
would be legal. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to
cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties
of tobacco. Like any drug, marijuana can be harmful if abused, but
jail cells are inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective
as deterrents.

The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican
migration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the
American Medical Association. Dire warnings that marijuana inspires
homicidal rages have been counterproductive at best. White Americans
did not even begin to smoke pot until a soon-to-be entrenched
government bureaucracy began funding reefer madness propaganda.

By raiding voter-approved medical marijuana providers in California,
the very same U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that claims
illicit drug use funds terrorism is forcing cancer and AIDS patients
into the hands of street dealers. Apparently marijuana prohibition is
more important than protecting the country from terrorism. The
following Virginia Law Review article offers a good overview of the
cultural roots of marijuana legislation: www.druglibrary.org. For
additional historical background, see the Canadian Senate report:
www.parl.gc.ca.

Robert Sharpe, Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.