DON'T DO IT THE AMERICAN WAY

Catherine Ford's column on marijuana decriminalization was right on target.

It's clear to me that Canadian policymakers are a lot more honest than
their counterparts in the United States. Tough-on-drugs politicians in
Washington have built careers on confusing drug prohibition's collateral
damage with a relatively harmless plant.

The Canadian Senate's special committee on illegal drugs recently concluded
that marijuana is relatively benign, marijuana prohibition contributes to
organized crime, and law enforcement efforts have little impact on patterns
of use.

What the U.S. government likely fears is its growing isolation; it's the
current record-holder in number of citizens incarcerated. The U.S. is one
of the few western countries that uses its criminal justice system to
destroy the lives of citizens who prefer marijuana to martinis.

That's hardly reason for Canada to waste scarce resources waging the war on
some drugs.

Robert P. Sharpe
Arlington, Va.
Robert P. Sharpe is a program officer with the Drug Policy Alliance.