KERSHNAR, CULTURE WARRIORS, AND THE WAR ON POT

Regarding Stephen Kershnar's March 28 column in the OBSERVER: 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 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 too.

Robert Sharpe

MPA Policy analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy

Washington, D.C.