RESPONSE TO CRYSTAL SISTONI'S THOUGHTFUL APRIL 28 OPINION EDITORIAL
ON MARIJUANA

Regarding Crystal Sistoni's thoughtful April 28 opinion 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. 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 immigration 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. Students who want to help end the intergenerational culture
war otherwise known as the war on some drugs should contact Students
for Sensible Drug Policy at www.SchoolsNotPrisons.com.

The following Virginia Law Review article offers a good overview of
the cultural roots of marijuana legislation:
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/vlr/vlrtoc.htm

Robert Sharpe

Robert Sharpe is Policy Analyst for Common Sense for Drug Policy in
Washington DC