RACIALIZING REEFER

There's certainly a racial aspect to drug laws (NOW, May 21-27).

I've often thought that drug laws were very culturally specific.

Alcohol is okay because it has a long history as a recreational drug
in Europe. But marijuana is scary because it has a long history in
Asia and the Middle East. Tobacco, coffee and tea were adopted by
Europeans and turned into cash crops under colonialist ventures.

But a relatively benign plant like khat is banned in Canada despite a
long social history in Somali, Yemeni and other East African communities.

D.Ferris

Toronto