FUNGUS CAUSES MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Officials in Florida are planning to risk the future of
the state's agricultural economy in the name of eradicating marijuana. Jim
McDonough, the recently appointed head of Florida's Office of Drug Control,
is planning to spread a fungus genetically engineered to kill marijuana
over areas where the plant is suspected of being grown.

Is marijuana such a threat to the nation that it justifies recklessly
interfering with nature?
The only rational answer to this question, regardless of one's personal
opinions about marijuana, must be a resounding "no."

Of course, Florida anti-drug officials deny that their plans are reckless
at all and insist that the fungus will be rigorously tested before it is
unleashed - but history and common sense say otherwise.

According to the New York Times, the fungus, known as Fusarium oxysporum
belongs to a species of fungus that is already predisposed towards
mutation, leaving many environmentalists to fear that the genetically
engineered fungus may mutate itself and turn on a variety of plants besides
the intended marijuana plant. Some endangered plants, tomatoes, corn,
peppers, and flowers could all be vulnerable, and Florida's hot climate
makes it an unusually ideal place for organisms to mutate. Even worse, in
the event of such a mutation, "it would be difficult, if not impossible (to
control the anti-pot fungus)" wrote the Secretary of the Florida's
Department of Environmental Protection in a letter to McDonough.

Historically, Florida has had a long list of problems with the introduction
of foreign species. For instance, a fast-growing Chinese vine called Kudzu
was planted earlier in the century to stop erosion, it has since claimed
everything from houses to roadside throughout the South because it grows a
foot a day.

The Miami Herald recently reported that farmers in Peru strongly suspect
the United States' use of an anti-coca fungus species has led to the death
of tangerine, yucca and banana crops. U.S. officials disavow involvement in
the death of the food crops but admit that they have aggressively
researched biological herbicides to use against marijuana, coca and poppy
plants.

In light of these facts about the Fusarium species and the nation's past
failures (both real and alleged) in introducing species into foreign
environments, it seems safe to say that only the most callous individual
would even consider the plan McDonough is promoting. It appears that
McDonough is willing to open what could be Pandora's box for Florida's
farmers in exchange for political clout for himself and his supporters.

Such a plan would still sound ridiculous even if it were aimed at a
destructive drug like crack cocaine. No matter how one looks at it, the
potential benefits of a society free of illicit drugs simply do not
validate a course of action that could destroy a large part of a whole
region's economy.

Genetic engineering is a promising technology, but it remains new and at
this stage it simply makes no sense to attempt to control the habits of a
species that is more susceptible to mutation that most other organisms. So
much risked for a gain that would be, at best, debatable is simply not a
good idea. The fungus should not be used.