HYPOCRISY OF BUSH'S PAST WITH DRUG USE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED

Editor:

Your Feb. 23rd editorial fails to take into account the hypocrisy of
Bush's past marijuana use.

Rather than worry that his marijuana use may inspire kids to try pot,
President Bush might want to consider the effect of the zero tolerance
drug war on the very same youth he sought to shield from the truth.

According to the Monitoring the Future survey, over half of all high
school seniors have tried an illicit drug.

Denying a majority of the nation's youth an education and the chance
to grow up to become productive members of society is not in America's
best interest.

Most students outgrow their youthful indiscretions involving drugs. An
arrest and criminal record, on the other hand, can be life-shattering.
After admitting to smoking pot (but not inhaling), former President
Bill Clinton opened himself up to "soft on drugs" criticism.

Thanks to the Doug Wead tapes, it's now clear that President Bush is
also politically vulnerable when it comes to drugs.

While youthful indiscretions didn't stop Clinton or Bush from assuming
leadership positions, an arrest surely would have. The short-term
health effects of marijuana are inconsequential compared to the
long-term effects of criminal records.

Drug abuse is bad, but the drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe

Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, DC