END THE WAR

In 1937 Congress outlawed marijuana in the midst of a firestorm of patently
false, often misleading, definitely racist propaganda fed by tabloidlike
hysteria. The cannabis (marijuana) plant which was on the verge of becoming
a multibillion-dollar cash crop instead was banned. Congress hadn't learned
all of its lessons from the alcohol prohibition, and as a consequence,
millions have been arrested and tens of thousands have been imprisoned -
making U.S. marijuana users the largest group of political prisoners in the
world.

In 1970 Congress passed the Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) Act of
1970, thus launching the "War on Drugs," which many refer to as the "War on
Citizens."

This war has been an absolute failure. There are far more drug users now
than ever before.

It is easier for kids to get drugs because of the "war." With prohibition,
there is no regulation of drugs, eliminating any quality controls or
distribution guidelines such as age restrictions.

Marijuana was erroneously placed in the CDS Act's "schedule 1"
classification - the same as heroin and cocaine. The act states that a
schedule 1 drug must (1) have little or no medical value in the U.S.; (2)
be addictive; (3) be subject to widespread abuse. If you examine the facts
on marijuana you will know marijuana is not a schedule 1 drug.

Millions use marijuana for therapeutic reasons, and 20 percent of the U.S.
population now live in states where marijuana has been legalized by citizen
referendums. The 1998 UN World Health Organization report states that
marijuana is far less addictive than legal drugs such as caffeine, and is
much safer than drugs like tobacco or alcohol. In the 6,000 years man has
recorded his use of marijuana there has never been one case of death by
marijuana. More people die of aspirin use.

In 1996 the tide began to turn drastically with the medical marijuana
ballot initiatives in Arizona and California. This past Nov. 3, voters in
Arizona again voted to legalize marijuana, as did voters in Alaska, Nevada,
Oregon, Washington, Colorado and the District of Columbia. In Colorado and
D.C., the Republican party was successful in nullifying the election
results, a tactic they have tried in attempting to nullify the elections of
Bill Clinton. In D.C., Congressman Bob Barr (R-GA) slipped into a
congressional budget bill an amendment ordering the barring of the election
results on the D.C. medical marijuana initiative.

Voters opposed to the government's drug policies are now openly being
encouraged to stop avoiding jury duty, by organizations such as The Fully
Informed Jury Association (FIJA, www.fija.org.) Jurors are then encouraged
to acquit citizens accused of "Drug War" offenses. Jurors cannot be
punished for acquitting a defendant. A juror has the right to judge "law as
well as evidence," although most party-picked judges will not allow this.

I myself have been charged with a "Drug War" offense; I'm putting my life
where my mouth is. My choice is that I will be openly encouraging my jury
to take the law into consideration.

Philadelphia lawyer Lawrence Hirsch (www.fairlaw.org) has taken the matter
to the federal court system in the form of a class action federal lawsuit
contending the government's prohibition on marijuana is unconstitutional.

The year 2000 elections may give many the opportunity to oust both
Republicans and Democrats and end the "War." Voters may choose the Reform
Party of Jesse Ventura fame or the Libertarian party in record numbers.

Either way, register to vote.