WEED AND AMERICA

Letter writer Jeffrey F. Cuff ("Marijuana editorial flawed," Sept. 10) is
absolutely right about unfounded fears regarding the Canadian Senate's
recommendation to end marijuana prohibition.

These valid albeit misguided concerns are addressed at length in the Senate
report, which critics have either failed to read or simply chosen to
ignore. After months of research the Special Committee on Illegal Drugs
concluded that marijuana is relatively benign, marijuana prohibition
contributes to organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little
impact on patterns of use.

Consider the experience of the United States, the former land of the free
and current record-holder in citizens incarcerated. The steady rise in
police searches on public transit, drug-sniffing dogs in schools, and
suspicionless drug testing have led to a loss of civil liberties, while
failing miserably at preventing drug use.

Based on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health
interventions and ineffective as deterrents, a majority of European Union
countries have decriminalized marijuana. Despite marijuana prohibition, and
perhaps because of forbidden fruit appeal, lifetime use of marijuana is
higher in the U.S. than any European country.

Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death,
nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco.

The short-term health effects of marijuana are inconsequential compared to
the long-term effects of criminal records.

Unfortunately, marijuana represents the counterculture to misguided
reactionaries intent on legislating their version of morality.

Canada should follow the lead of Europe and Just Say No to the American
Inquisition.

The results of a comparative study of European and U.S. rates of drug use
can be found at:

http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/espad_pr.pdf

For more information on the Canadian Senate report please visit:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/ille-e/press-e/04sep
02-e.htm

Robert Sharpe

Program Officer

Drug Policy Alliance

Washington, D.C.