SLAPPED BY MARSHALL

Congressman Jim Marshall recently gave me the back of his hand,
verbally, when I suggested we need to take another look at the War on
Drugs, especially marijuana.

The War on Drugs is a massively expensive failure. Constitutional
protections have been, and are being, trampled. Large numbers of our
citizens are in prison for using a drug which is relatively inocuous,
in comparison with many legal drugs with serious and sometimes lethal
side effects.

I wish I could believe he is a man of principle with only the best
interests of the people at heart. Rather, I think he is representing
big pharma and the alcohol industry.

We are bombarded 24/7 by drug pushers on TV. I don't believe the
congressman is mentally challenged, so there must be another
explanation for his rock solid stance of support for the War on
Drugs. He cannot support his claim that it has a positive deterrent
effect with anything other than opinions. In my opinion, this is just
one more indication of the U.S. now having the best government money can buy.

Congress needs to support taking a clear-eyed look at how current
strategies are affecting the supply and demand of drugs. Congressman
Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., has introduced a bill to do just that. There has
not been a thorough, frank evaluation of the fight against drugs in
decades. The drug czar office's annual report is not enough.
Recommendations by an independent commission, however, could generate
the consensus and strategy we sorely need.

­ M. Tony Anthony

Warner Robins