STOSSEL ON DRUGS - AND OTHER CHEMICALS

While I can't dispute many of the criticisms of John Stossel's obviously
opinionated reporting in the April EXTRA!, I think it would have been
appropriate for the authors to mention at least one instance where Stossel
uses his unique position at ABC News to push ideas that progressive readers
of EXTRA! would likely embrace.

Stossel has been an outspoken critic of the US drug war. He makes no
pretense of objectivity on the issue, and I admire him for it. Several of
his commentaries and prime time specials have exposed the way the drug war
has unjustly filled prisons and diminished civil liberties in this country.
When the health of AIDS patient Peter McWilliams was further endangered by
federal persecution for McWilliams's use of medical marijuana, Stossel was
the only network reporter I'm aware of who covered the story. Stossel
followed up too, just after McWilliam's tragic death.

In the eight years I've been subscribing to EXTRA!, I've noticed only
limited criticism of the horrendous mainstream media coverage of drug
policy issues, except for the occasional (though certainly admirable) piece
by Mike Males, and some analysis of the CIA/crack/Contra cover-up.

For the most part, progressive media outlets like EXTRA! have been far too
quiet on the disaster of the drug war and the mainstream media's
complicity. Until that changes, I eagerly await Stossel's next attack on
the fiasco of modern prohibition.

Stephen Young, Editor, DrugSense Weekly, Schaumburg, IL