MANDATORY DRUG TESTING FOR STUDENTS IS BAD IDEA

To the Editor:

In his Feb. 13 column, the ever-cynical Dick Morris advises Republicans to
push for mandatory drug testing of high school students ("Campaign finance
reform won't hurt Republicans"). Such a strategy may bring short-term
political advantage, but it would be a disaster for America's young people.

First, false-positive drug test results can be triggered by many factors,
including over-the-counter and prescription medications, turning lives and
families upside-down when a person is wrongly identified as an illegal drug
user.

Even more dangerous is the fact that detectable traces of marijuana linger
in the body far longer than residues of other drugs, which becomes well
known when a mandatory drug-testing program is introduced.

This gives students a powerful incentive to switch from marijuana to drugs
such as cocaine, speed or heroin, which are harder to detect, but far more
addictive and dangerous.

If the GOP manages to win a few more races by taking Morris' advice, it
will do so at the expense of our nation's youth.

Bruce Mirken,

Acting Director of Communications,

Marijuana Policy Project,

Washington, D.C.