WAR ON DRUGS IS MAIN CAUSE OF PROBLEMS

Jerry Epstein did not go far enough in condemning the false justifications
for drug prohibition.

It isn't just marijuana that the drug warriors lie about. They fictionalize
the dangers of every drug they choose to ban.

Take heroin for example. Before drug prohibition heroin addicts had very
few problems other than a powerful habit.

When drugs were legal addicts held regular employment, raised decent
families and were indistinguishable from their teetotaling neighbors.

Many of the most outstanding figures in the 1800s were opium addicts.
Judges, lawyers, politicians, bankers, doctors and professionals in every
field were confirmed opiate addicts but this never affected their ability
to perform.

There is no science behind the prohibitionist propaganda that opiate use
harms the individual.

There is no doubt on this point because of the thousands of people who have
been implanted with morphine drip devices that provide 24 hour a day
narcosis for pain relief.

All of the troubles we have with heroin are 100% caused by ill conceived
drug prohibition laws.

It's time to end the most failed and most counterproductive policy in US
history by legalizing and regulating drugs.

Redford Givens
San Francisco, Calif.