POLITICS, NOT CULTURE, DETERMINE DRUG LAWS

RE: "Culture, not health, determines drug laws," May 17

In regards to Robert Sharpe's thoughtful letter, actually, it's pure
politics that determine why some products are criminalized and not
others.

If based upon danger, tobacco and alcohol would be criminalized but
marijuana would not be. If based upon danger, coffee would be
criminalized but marijuana would not be.

If we smoke the world's most potent marijuana, all day long, the worst
effect would be a very severe case of the munchies. On the other hand,
if we drink 65 cups of coffee in a single day, we have a 50 percent
chance of dying as a result.

However, if we criminalized coffee, we would soon have coffee dealers,
coffee lords, coffee cartels and criminals robbing, stealing and
committing acts of prostitution to purchase black market controlled
coffee. And, of course, politicians would be proclaiming that we must
protect our children from the evils of coffee addiction.

Examiner: Uh, how many people ever drink 65 cups of coffee? How many people
lose a job cause of a latte jones?

How many people drink 65 cups of coffee in a single day? Probably none
or very close to none. Those that did are probably no longer with us.

I used to know a guy who boasted that he drank at least 20 cups of
coffee a day. However, he is no longer with us. He died of a heart
attack when he was in his mid 40s.

How many people smoke the world's most potent marijuana all day long?
Probably none, or very close to none.

KIRK MUSE

Mesa, AZ