GOVERNMENT MISPLACES VALUES IN WAR ON DRUGS

Dear Editor,

Regarding Dave Johnston's April 12 column:

Alcohol kills more people each year than all illegal drugs combined.
Prescription overdose deaths are now second only to motor-vehicle
crashes as a cause of death from unintentional injury. Television is
filled with sophisticated pro-drug messages paid for by alcohol and
pharmaceutical companies. The Bush administration doesn't have a
problem with corporate drug pushers. But hoist a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus"
banner at an off-campus high school rally in Alaska, and they will
fight you all the way to the Supreme Court. It is not clear how this
nonsensical phrase somehow merits limiting free speech.

Culture warriors in the White House seem to think the war on pot is
more important than the Constitution. It doesn't stop there. By
raiding voter-approved medical marijuana providers in California, the
very same Bush administration that claims illicit drug use funds
terrorism is forcing cancer and AIDS patients into the hands of street dealers.

So it's not just the Constitution that is expendable. Apparently
marijuana prohibition is more important than protecting the country
from terrorism. Students who want to help end the intergenerational
culture war otherwise known as the war on some drugs should contact
Students for Sensible Drug Policy at www.SchoolsNotPrisons.com.

- - Robert Sharpe, MPA

Policy Analyst,

Common Sense for Drug Policy