POT REFORM NEEDED

Regarding Steven Epstein's thoughtful op-ed (Sept. 15), if health
outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms marijuana
would be legal. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to
cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties
of tobacco. Marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are
inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents.
The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican
migration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the
American Medical Association.

Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been
counterproductive at best. White Americans did not even begin to
smoke pot until a soon-to-be entrenched government bureaucracy began
funding reefer madness propaganda. By raiding voter-approved medical
marijuana providers in California, the very same Bush 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.

The following Virginia Law Review article offers a good overview of
the cultural roots of marijuana legislation:
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/vlr/vlrtoc.htm

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy

www.csdp.org

Washington, DC