DRUGS VS. DRUG WAR

Bill Frost's column was right on target ["News You Can Lose," Frost Bytes,
Feb. 24, City Weekly]. Rather than worry that his past marijuana use may
inspire kids to try pot, President George W. 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, more than half of all high
school seniors have tried an illicit drug.

Denying a majority of the nation's youth an education is not in America's
best interest.

Most students outgrow their youthful indiscretions. An arrest and criminal
record, on the other hand, can be life shattering. After admitting to
smoking pot (but not inhaling), former President 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

Common Sense For Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.