DRACONIAN POT LAWS CAN'T BE JUSTIFIED

The Times-News editorial on marijuana (Sept. 26) quotes the head of the
Office of National Drug Control Policy commenting on marijuana addiction
among teen-agers. Although the syndrome of cannabis dependence has been
verified, it is questionable whether the term "addiction" can be properly
applied, since even chronic users manifest, at most, mild withdrawal
symptoms. Regardless, the claim that "marijuana is the most addictive drug
among teen-agers today" is arguable when tobacco and alcohol are
considered. Alcohol withdrawal, for example, can be so severe as to result
in death. In any case, few advocates of decriminalizing the personal use of
marijuana would disagree that there are health risks from smoking pot.

But that's not the point. The issue is the mistaken belief that draconian
penalties for marijuana use are justified either morally or practically.
Two generations of federal drug czars have fought a "war on drugs." But
according to a blue-ribbon scientific commission in California, "this
traditional approach has accomplished little except possibly to increase
price and encourage experimentation with alternate drugs." The "war" has
been successful, however, in imprisoning tens of thousands of Americans who
harmed no one, some of whom received longer sentences than criminals
convicted of rape or murder!

As to your claim that marijuana is a "threshold" drug which leads to other
illicit substances: In a report to the World Health Organization,
researchers determined that it is more probable that adolescents with a
propensity to use other illicit drugs are drawn into marijuana use.

One of the reasons the "war on drugs" has been ineffective is that it lumps
all illegal drugs together as equally dangerous to society. The federal
government has systematically ignored contradictory scientific evidence as
it continued ill-conceived and ineffective policies. Law enforcement
officials should be able to devote their limited resources to fighting the
scourge of methamphetamines, for example, rather than arresting people for
smoking a joint. A number of states have reasoned, fair and humane policies
toward personal marijuana use. Idaho should follow suit.

Andrew J. Crane

Twin Falls