LIBERTARIANS CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

"A Drug War Carol," by Susan W. Wells and Scott Bieser; comic-style
paperback, 78 pages full color, Bighead Press $5.95.

Wells' and Biesers' visual retelling of the history of our (by turns)
absurd, pathetic, counterproductive and inhumane Drug War -- in a
parody of Dickens' "Christmas Carol," pitting head of the Office of
National Drug Control Policy Scrooge McCzar against medical marijuana
user Mary Jane Cratchet -- is nothing short of brilliant. Even those
who know parts of the story will have trouble tearing themselves away.

It's all thoroughly documented -- which helps, given that the
uninitiated would otherwise find it hard to believe just how
incredibly racist were the original claims used to justify the start
of the Drug War, 70 to 90 years ago. Opium and cocaine turn Asian and
black American men into insensate zombies, impervious to gunfire and
hell-bent on raping white women ... right? Everyone who supports the
Drug War must surely know that.

And marijuana? "When some beet-field peon takes a few puffs of this
stuff, he thinks he's been elected president of Mexico, so he starts
out to execute all his political enemies," raved top Prohibitionist
Harry Anslinger, as the former booze police found themselves looking
for new work in 1933.

Yep. "Anejo and knives a-slashing," as Jimmy Buffett once
sang.

Got someone who won't take the time to read the real, appalling
history of our proud War on Drugs -- and what it's doing to everyday,
innocent Americans -- in a big heavy book with no pictures? Here's the
perfect solution.

Buy a dozen copies. Spread 'em around.

Vin Suprynowicz is assistant editorial page editor of the
Review-Journal and author of the books "Send in the Waco Killers" and
"The Ballad of Carl Drega."