DRUG-REFORM BALLOTS WERE SIGNIFICANT

JOHN R. MILLER argues ("Big money behind legalising drugs", Letters, 12
November) that my article on 7 November regarding voter support for a
change in drug policy omitted to mention the small number of American
states where majorities in 11 of 11 ballots supported drug reform. I also
omitted to mention that the six western states and the District of Columbia
account for 20 per cent of the United States population.

Mr Miller argues that the result was influenced by vast sums spent on
advertising. Expenditure of $US5 million on advertising for a population of
50 million seems minimal. In comparison, our own Federal Government spent
more than $A15 million advertising arguments for taxation reform for a
population of almost 19 million.

Another glaring omission was my failure to draw attention to the attempts
by prohibition supporters to override the democratic process. Legislators
stopped votes in Colorado and the District of Columbia from being
officially tallied.

When asked about his own views on drug policy, Mr Soros says that he is not
really sure but leans to reform of some kind. He funds another drug policy
group apart from the Lindesmith Centre with more traditional views.

Although Mr Miller sees consideration of medical use of marijuana as the
thin edge of an ugly legalisation wedge, cannabis was used for medicinal
purposes in Australia until a few decades ago and remained on the US
Pharmacopoeia until 1937. Did this bring about legalisation then?

(Dr) A. WODAK President
Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation
Darlinghurst, NSW

Checked-by: Pat Dolan