SUBSIDIZING PREJUDICES OF OUR CULTURE WARRIORS

To the editor,

Sheryl McCarthy did an excellent job highlighting the absurdity of the
Higher Education Act's denial of student loans to youth convicted of drug
offenses in her column (The Recorder, April 22). 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 teen-agers 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 imposing
their version of morality. This country cannot afford to continue
subsidizing the prejudices of culture warriors.

Robert Sharpe,

Washington, D.C.

The writer is a program officer for the Drug Policy Alliance.