THE FAILING 'WAR ON DRUGS'

A complete and utter travesty of justice is currently underway,
which should cause all Americans to contact their federal senators
and representatives in Congress.

New Mexico is one of the latest of many states to approve the
medicinal use of marijuana, but despite that (and perhaps because of
it), federal agencies recently announced they intend on pursuing
legal charges against a paraplegic man who went through his state's
legal guidelines to obtain the right to possess medicinal marijuana,
under the approval and supervision of his medical doctor.

The case is purely political, as the D.E.A. and other involved
agencies intend on making an example of the 44-year-old man,
stepping between him and his doctor in order to make a statement and
spread fear throughout those suffering from similar debilitating
medical conditions. Gov. Bill Richardson has vowed to fight
to protect the rights of his citizens, but faces an uphill battle
without some initiative within the Congress or Senate to finally
bring sensibility into our failing "war on drugs."

Whether you hold any personal opinions one way or another regarding
the medicinal use of marijuana, most Americans would agree the
federal government should have no right to prosecute those who
simply possess a medicine deemed legal within their own state,
after going through all the proper steps and obtaining a doctor's
prescription for that medicine.

Have we learned nothing from the Terry Shivo case with regards to
the over-reaching powers of the federal government? Can anyone sit
back and allow such injustice to befall fellow citizens without
speaking out, writing your representatives in government and calling
for some sensibility?

The classification of marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug depends on
three criteria, of which it only really qualifies under the first
(but so could diet pills, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, sleeping
pills, energy pills, steroids, etc.). It does indeed possess
the potential for abuse, but no worse than those legal substances
mentioned. The other two criteria have been proven wrong by
countless medical studies and a growing number of states which have
approved marijuana for medicinal purposes.

If we ever intend on winning our "war on drugs," we have to
seriously look at the effects created by lumping it in with such
obviously harmful and addictive poisons as cocaine, crystal meth,
heroine and opium. Our children are being taught to disregard the
warnings regarding these poisons once they discover marijuana isn't
as bad as the government says it is. The continual rise in drug use
nation-wide should serve as notice we are failing in our efforts to
clean up our communities, and a new strategy should be implemented.

As the prohibition days exemplified with alcohol, the only people
benefiting from marijuana being illegal are those criminals who
profit from it. By decriminalizing, controlling and taxing
marijuana, our law enforcement community would gain many more allies
and resources nationwide to curb the popularity and availability
of the truly damaging drugs which infect our society.

Just as many have pointed out our mistake in entering our second war
in Iraq, without first gaining popular support of most nations, our
continuing "war on drugs" will be a failed policy without first
establishing a reasoned approach with popular appeal. Contact your
leaders in government and plead to bring a new, winning strategy to
our "war on drugs." Let's concentrate efforts on eliminating the
true poisons, and not waste untold resources attempting to step
between a doctor and their patient.

Eric Sjolin

Akeley