Uninformed on mariuana

A Friend in New Zealand paraphrased the contents of a Post editorial
(April
10). You are badly in need of basic reorientation your pespective on
marijuana as well woefully uninformed about the consequences of drug
prohbition 1aw in general.

The subject of cannabis legalisation is not frivolous, certainly not to
thousands of prison inmates in the United States who are serving multi
year
sentences for mere possesion.

A good reason for decriminlising every drug is that criminal prohibition
creates and sustains violent illegal markets.

Many believe that creation of such a market is callous act of
irresponsibility by whatever government does so.

The United States has successfully coerced governments around the world
to
adopt its extreme drug policies. Rejection would send a powerful message
to
US politicians who are still reelng from the passage of medical
marijuana
initiatives in two states.

Far from "admitting defeat", decriminalisation would signify a beginning
return of sanity.

Persistence in failed policy because of stubborn commitment to its
flawed
intellectual underpinnings or, worse, simple reluctance to "admit
defeat"
is not much of an endorsement for the policy in qestion. Perhaps you
should
rethink your commitment to it and to the status quo.

[Abridged]

Dr THOMAS J O'CONNELL, MD

San Mateo, California