OUR READERS RESPOND

DRUG WAR

To the editor:

Thank you for the comprehensive and well-written piece by Rafael Tammariello
in the June 14 edition about the effort to legalize marijuana for medicinal use.

Mr. Tammariello appeared to be trying to paint the effort as a sinister
effort by liberal outsiders to infiltrate our local sensibilities. But in
fact the people have been way ahead of politicians and drug prohibition
crusaders on this issue for years, and the Nevada petition initiative is
just the latest manifestation of that fact.

Lost in the article, but not on people who study the issue, is the fact that
nationwide, the drug war and laws against drugs are causing far more harm
and pain than the drugs themselves. The piece provided a fine public service
by explaining which drugs are considered more dangerous than others by the
government.

Year after year, alcohol kills more Americans than all the government's
"Schedule 1" drugs combined. Yet the double-standard continues, with alcohol
conveniently left out of the picture in the so-called war against drug
abuse. If the Nevada petition initiative fails this year, it will be back.

Increasing numbers of Americans are wising up to what the "drug war" is
really about, and the overwhelming passage of medicinal marijuana
initiatives in Arizona and California are just the first breakthroughs in
this quiet, gradual revolution.

DENNIS MITCHELL Las Vegas

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett