DRUG ABUSE GOES BEYOND TYPICAL ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES

Regarding the March 29 editorial ("Case important step for students'
rights"), alcohol kills more people each year than all illegal drugs
combined. Prescription overdose deaths are now second on the list of
causes of death from unintentional injury -- only motor-vehicle
crashes is higher. 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. Apparently, marijuana prohibition is more important than
protecting the country from terrorism.

Robert Sharpe

Policy analyst for the Common Sense for Drug Policy