MORE STRAIGHT DOPE

Columnist Rich Thurlow (PVT 6/26) is absolutely right about marijuana's
evil being more hype than substance. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never
been shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive
properties of tobacco. America's marijuana laws are based on culture and
xenophobia, not science.

The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican migration
during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the American Medical
Association. White Americans did not even begin to smoke marijuana until a
soon-to-be entrenched government bureaucracy began funding reefer madness
propaganda.

Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been
counterproductive at best. An estimated 38 percent of Americans have now
smoked pot. The reefer madness myths have long been discredited, forcing
the drug war gravy train to spend millions of tax dollars on politicized
research, trying to find harm in a relatively harmless plant.

Unlike the shameless bureaucrats whose jobs depend on never-ending drug
war, Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement have their priorities in
order. There is a big difference between condoning marijuana use and
protecting children from drugs. Decriminalization acknowledges the social
reality of marijuana use. What's really needed is a regulated market with
age controls. Right now kids have an easier time buying pot than beer.

Separating the hard and soft drug markets is critical. As long as marijuana
distribution remains in the hands of organized crime, consumers will
continue to come into contact with harder drugs like meth. Drug policy
reform may send the wrong message to children, but I like to think the
children themselves are more important than the message.

Sincerely,

Robert Sharpe, M.P.A.

Program Officer

Drug Policy Alliance