SENSIBLE POLICY STILL NEEDED

Regarding Matt Petryni's thoughtful June 7th op-ed, if health outcomes
determined drug laws instead of cultural norms marijuana would be
legal. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an
overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco.
Like any drug, marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are
inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents.
The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican migration
during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the American Medical
Association. Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages
have been counterproductive at best.

White Americans did not even begin to smoke pot until a soon-to-be
entrenched government bureaucracy began funding reefer madness
propaganda. By raiding voter-approved medical marijuana providers in
states with compassionate-use laws, the very same U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration that claims illicit drug use funds
terrorism is forcing cancer and AIDS patients into the hands of street
dealers. Apparently marijuana prohibition is more important than
protecting the country from terrorism. Students who want to help end
the intergenerational culture war otherwise known as the war on some
drugs should contact Students for Sensible Drug Policy at
www.SchoolsNotPrisons.com.

Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy