DEMONIZING POT A DRUG WAR SHAM

I'm writing about Bruce Mirken's outstanding letter, "Another Front in
the Failing Drug War" (9-25-03).

Methamphetamine use and production are at epidemic levels throughout
the United States. If our drug war cheerleaders like Drug Czar John P.
Walters want to know why, tell them to look in a mirror.

Illegal drug use is up throughout the nation and the highest increase
in among 11- to 13-year-olds. If Drug Czar John Walters wants to know
why, tell him to look in a mirror.

When our government lies about and/or grossly exaggerates the dangers
of marijuana, it loses all credibility. About half of all high school
students will use marijuana before they graduate. They know from
personal experience that marijuana is not very dangerous or highly
addictive.

When our children find out that they have been lied to about
marijuana, they make to logical assumption that they are also are
being lied to about meth, heroin and other hard drugs.

Therefore, meth use and production are at record levels throughout the
United States. Therefore, the U.S. has higher levels of drug abuse
than any European country.

Our "reefer madness" propaganda isn't working to reduce drug abuse.
It's time to do something different--substantially different.

Kirk Muse,

Mesa, Ariz