THE DOPE ON DOPE

Thank you for raising awareness of the Higher Education Act's denial of
student loans to youth convicted of drug offenses. Instead of empowering
at-risk students with a college degree, HEA limits career opportunities and
increases the likelihood that those affected will resort to crime. Speaking
of crime, convicted rapists and murders are still eligible for federal loans.

Most teenagers outgrow their youthful indiscretions involving drugs. An
arrest and criminal record, on the other hand, can be life-shattering.
After admitting to smoking pot (but not inhaling), Clinton opened himself
up to "soft on drugs" criticism. And thousands of Americans have paid the
price in the form of shattered lives. More Americans went to prison or jail
during the Clinton administration than during any past administration.

As an admitted former drinker and alleged illicit drug user, President
George W. Bush is also politically vulnerable. While youthful indiscretions
didn't stop Clinton or Bush from assuming leadership positions, an arrest
surely would have. The short-term health effects of marijuana are
inconsequential compared to the long-term effects of criminal records.

Like any drug, marijuana can be harmful if abused, but arrests are hardly
appropriate health interventions for non-traditional drugs. Unlike alcohol,
marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death, nor does it
share the addictive properties of tobacco. Unfortunately, marijuana
represents the counterculture to misguided reactionaries intent on forcibly
imposing their version of morality. This country cannot afford to continue
subsidizing the prejudices of culture warriors.

Robert Sharpe, M.P.A.
Program Officer
Drug Policy Alliance
Washington, D.C.

HIGHER EDUCATION?

Kudos for the excellent article "Drugs And Colleges Not Mixing", April 18.
I am flabbergasted that our federal government believes that denying
someone an education is a good way to keep them from using drugs. It seems
to me that such efforts would have quite the opposite effect!

Adam Wiggins
Director, Neoteric
Pasadena, CA