MARIJUANA ENTHUSIASTS REACT

Olympian Michael Phelps is in good company. The list of professional
athletes caught using marijuana is long. Could it be that drug
warriors have been lying about marijuana's health impact? They've
definitely been lying about the deterrent value of marijuana
prohibition. The U.S. has higher rates of marijuana use than the
Netherlands, where marijuana is legally available to adults over 18.
Marijuana prohibition is built on lies, beginning with the "reefer
madness" myths of the 1930's and continuing to this day with
government anti-drug propaganda masquerading as science. As an
admitted former pot smoker, President Obama no doubt knows the truth
about marijuana. Truthfully, marijuana is easily the least harmful
recreational drug, legal or otherwise. If health outcomes determined
drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana would be legal. The
question is, will Obama bring change or will he continue to subsidize
the prejudices of culture warriors?

Sincerely

Robert Sharpe, MPA Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC