NEED MORE SCIENCE, LESS RELIGION IN DRUG LAWS

I sympathize with Santa Cruz, Calif., Mayor Christopher Krohn's marijuana
dilemma ("Medical marijuana solutions needed," Sept. 25). His proposed
solution, however, is wide of the mark.

We don't need more legislation, but rather a repeal of some bad
legislation. A colossal error was made in 1914 with the passage of the
Harrison Act under the guidance of the Women's Christian Temperance Union.
That error was compounded by passage of the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937, with
the help of another religious fanatic, Harry Anslinger. To add insult to
injury and even more nails in the coffin of civil liberties in this once
free country, the Controlled Substances Act was passed in 1970. This last
act placed marijuana in schedule one, the top security prison of drug
schedules.

All three acts were passed with very little input from the scientific
community. Far more attention was paid to the religious opinion on drugs
and that religious, moral approach defines the drug war. Re-evaluation of
these three acts with an emphasis on scientific and pharmacological input
would reveal that every one of these drugs could be controlled better after
they were legal. In fact, none of the drugs in question cause harm if the
dosage is low enough and the frequency of use is infrequent enough.

The state has been carrying water for the church long enough. After
legalization the religious could continue moralizing against drug use all
they want on their own time with their own dime.

William McNulty

Seattle