DRUG INJUSTICE

Re: Youthful Indiscretion Follows Into Adulthood, Nov. 12.

Bill Maxwell does Times readers a great service by informing us of the
travesties relating to the 1998 Higher Education Act.

In the alleged interest of promoting education, our young people are sent
confusing messages by the government. Occasional marijuana use makes one a
"drug addict' requiring state run hospital treatment to be "cured."

Furthermore, the denial of financial aid for having a marijuana arrest
promotes the government's message that marijuana use is more heinous than
robbery, rape, assault or murder, offenses that would not lead to the
refusal of education funds by the government.

As literally millions of our children are dosed daily with Ritalin and
other mood-altering substances, as literally millions of our adults consume
Prozac and related anti-depressants and as tens of millions of Americans
daily indulge in tobacco and alcohol usage, there are still some in our
society who seek a "drug free America." Is it any wonder that our young
people seem distrustful of adult authority?

The war on drugs and other zero-tolerance policies are literally a war on
our own populace, with a resulting perverse focus on minorities and young
people.

It's time we truly educate both children and adults about the true
consequences relating to both drug use and also drug abuse. Having the
government impose artificial and crippling consequences seems hardly like a
move toward "higher education."