IS WAR ON DRUGS MORE IMPORTANT?

Regarding Sam Chaltain's March 23 op-ed, alcohol kills more Americans
each year than all illegal drugs combined. Prescription overdose
deaths are second only to motor-vehicle crashes as a cause of death
from unintentional injury. Television is filled with 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.

Its not clear to me how this nonsensical phrase somehow merits
limiting free speech. Then again, the federal government's reefer
madness obsession with marijuana has never made sense. Culture
warriors in the White House clearly believe the war on pot is more
important than the Constitution. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop
there. By raiding 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.
Apparently marijuana prohibition is more important than protecting the
country from terrorism too.

Robert Sharpe

Arlington, Va.