THE ILL-FATED WAR CONTINUES

Re: On opposite side of border, opposite side of pot
issue, Nov. 17.

Likely due to lack of space, Susan Taylor Martin's article failed to
provide full perspective. First, the 39 percent of Nevada voters and
the 43 percent of Arizona voters who voted "yes" to changing marijuana
laws were both higher numbers than last year's USA Today poll, which
showed that 34 percent of Americans agree with ending marijuana
prohibition. Additionally, the national polls show that 72 percent of
Americans agree with not jailing people simply for possessing marijuana.

Further, both states' initiatives contained language that mandated the
establishment of regulated distribution systems for marijuana to
adults. This "add-on" language likely stymied many voters from signing
off on the primary intent of both states, which was to end the arrest
and incarceration of responsible adult marijuana users.

Additionally, it should be noted that federal drug czar John Walters
campaigned against the initiatives via a predictable laundry list of
propaganda and misinformation about marijuana and how allowing a legal
and regulated market would lead both states down an inexorable road to
doom. Such campaigning against state initiatives or candidates by
public officials on taxpayer time is a blatant violation of the law,
but hardly anything new for those intent on maintaining the current
prohibition laws.

Thankfully, as Martin noted, the government in Canada and the United
Kingdom have concluded that while marijuana use carries definite
risks, none is so horrible as to merit the government wasting
literally billions of taxpayer dollars arresting, prosecuting and
incarcerating adults who use it responsibly. And definitely it is the
height of draconian policy to arrest almost 2,000 people daily simply
for marijuana possession, as we do in the United States.

As these countries boldly proceed with ending their own marijuana
prohibition, the U.S. federal government will become the lone bastion
in the ill-fated and misguided War Against Americans, formerly known
as the War Against Marijuana.

Stephen Heath Public Relations Director, Drug Policy Forum of Florida
Clearwater