REFLECTIONS ON SENSIBILITY

Last week my position was grossly misrepresented in a letter to the Cigar
written by another student. The claim was made that the organization I work
with, Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), is advocating the
elimination of drug policy altogether - implying that we're in favor of a
laissez-faire approach to drugs. Perhaps the writer didn't notice the 'for
Sensible Drug Policy' part of my organization's name.

We work to reform drug policy because we realize that the way the War on
Drugs is waged endangers public health and wastes valuable resources. We
understand that the momentous problem of substance abuse is only exacerbated
by current policy - drug abuse certainly causes harm, but this harm is only
intensified by the way our government currently attempts to deal with it.
We, as a society, must develop more sensible, just and compassionate
solutions to our nation's drug problems.

Unlike many of my opponents who are steadfastly waging the Drug War, I'll be
completely honest: I don't know exactly what a Drug Policy Utopia looks
like. There are no easy solutions to the problems associated with substance
abuse. However, I can safely say that a Drug Policy Utopia looks a lot
different than current American drug policy. For example, a Drug Policy
Utopia does NOT include any of the following things:

*A provision in the Higher Education Act that denies financial aid for
college to people with any drug conviction.

*Federal agents pointing automatic weapons in the faces of seriously ill and
disabled medical marijuana patients.

*Random drug testing for high school students.

*Preventing lifesaving needle-exchange programs from receiving funding.

*Spraying poison on Colombian peasants and their crops in an effort to
curtail the flow of cocaine into the United States.

*Federal spending for law enforcement and prison construction far
outweighing spending on treatment, prevention and education.

Additionally, a Drug Policy Utopia would most certainly include harsher
restrictions for alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical corporations. It seems
obvious that actively recruiting substance abusers for profit causes harm to
society and should be illegal. This means that drug dealers should not be
able to place billboards on the side of the road where children can see
them. (What do we expect children to think when they view gigantic pictures
of men holding beer bottles partying with large-breasted women?)

But alas, the alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical corporations have some of
the most powerful lobbyists in the United States. It is highly unlikely that
many members of Congress would support measures that limit the ability of
these corporations (that fund their campaigns for office) to profit from
widespread substance abuse.

Also, lying public officials wouldn't be included in a Drug Policy Utopia.
Last week I attended the New England Governor's Summit on regional drug
policy issues. The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
organized the meeting of governors in Boston. The event featured U.S. Drug
Czar John Walters, DEA-head Karen Tandy and several other major-league
prohibition all-stars.

In his opening address, "Tsar" Walters referred to historic Faneuil Hall,
the site of the summit, as "a place widely associated with public debate and
discussion." But there wasn't any of that to be had during Mr. Walters's
visit. Each panel was stacked with Drug War hawks who bombarded the region's
governors with a plethora of dogmatic assertions.

To the ONDCP's credit, myself and a few other drug policy reformers were
allowed into the summit to witness the propaganda dispersal. However, we
were given assigned seats all the way in the back of the hall, and had
absolutely no opportunity to participate in the day's "discourse" on
important drug policy issues. (I did, however take the opportunity to heckle
the ONDCP's Andrea Barthwell at one point near the end of the summit - but I
was quickly surrounded by security guards who ensured that there would be no
further eruptions of truth during the event.)

I seriously hope that the governors of New England possess the critical
thinking skills that are necessary to see past the haze of misinformation
spewed forth by the Narco-Emperor and his cronies during the summit.

Despite the fact that I don't have an elaborate blueprint for constructing a
Drug Policy Utopia, I will continue to advocate for specific, winnable
changes in policy, such as repealing the Higher Education Act Drug
Provision, implementing needle-exchange programs, and eliminating Plan
Colombia. These and other changes in policy are quite attainable, but it is
only with the continued efforts of my colleagues and increased public
understanding that we will succeed in defeating injustice and ignorance to
make this society a safer place for everyone.