PANEL FUELS REEFER MADNESS

There is only one purpose behind meetings of this sort, especially
when a panel consists of a district attorney, a county sheriff, a
police captain, and representatives of narcotics enforcement and a
drug-free youth group.

'Just the Facts' represents the fear, hysteria and repression of
nearly a century of Reefer Madness coming undone. Martin Webb is
right, 'Just the opinions' is more on point.

Of course there are going to be snags with Prop. 19. The last thing
that is needed, however, is "duh" factor commentary. It says more
about teachers (or, in this instance, the administer that started it)
than it does about students.

The myth of Prop. 19 making cannabis more available to teens is
contestable. Youth that want access to cannabis already have it.

Prop. 19 provides Federal authorities the opportunity and means to
better target cartel activities, provided they can keep their noses
out of legislatively approved state matters long enough to affect a
difference. Therein is the problem.

Forums like 'Just the Facts' don't encourage dialogue on any level;
their only purpose is to fuel the very same angst that promotes Reefer
Madness.

Wayne Phillips

Communication Director, Educators For Sensible Drug Policy

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada