MARIJUANA PROHIBITION

To the editor:

In your Thursday editorial on Denver's passage of a marijuana
decriminalization initiative, you asked when majority votes that
limit the power of the government ceased to count in this country.
Unfortunately, democracy has always taken a back seat to marijuana prohibition.

As noted in your editorial, Colorado authorities immediately
announced their intention to ignore the will of voters and continue
arresting non-violent marijuana consumers. In 1998, 70 percent of
Washington, D.C., voters passed a medical marijuana law. Congress
killed the initiative at the federal level before it could ever take effect.

Marijuana prohibition doesn't just trump democracy. By raiding
voter-approved medical marijuana providers in California, the very
same U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that claims illicit drug
use funds terrorism is forcing cancer and AIDS patients into the
hands of street dealers. Apparently, marijuana prohibition is more
important than protecting the country from terrorism.

Robert Sharpe

Arlington, VA.

The Writer Is A Policy Analyst For Washington, D.C.-Based Common
Sense For Drug Policy.