A FUNNY RATIONALIZATION

Editor: Lamar Moore's Jan. 15 column has to be one of the funnier
rationalizations I have ever seen to support prohibition of various substances.

Number one, the laws prohibiting various substances were rooted in racist,
xenophobic tendencies. The positive effects Moore outlines were brought
about in large part by labeling requirements, not prohibitionist policies.
Proper labeling reduced accidental addiction a great deal before the
Harrison Act was passed.

Number two, he lumps all drugs together in declaring that drug users cannot
be productive for more than one or two years. Not to mention concluding our
government has come to a rational drug policy decision concerning alcohol.
Where does he get these false facts from? His wish list? His imagination?
There is no evidence marijuana or heroin so incapacitate an individual.

Crack and methamphetamines may be different for some, yet the evidence
shows the vast majority of users of cocaine use the drug moderately, not
chronically.

I have a list of every major study of drug policy done in the past 50
years. They all recommend decriminalization. We could simply follow the
scholarly advice. Couldn't we? I guess we are not ready yet.

Moore could use a tad of study at the library, starting with
http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/cu/cumenu.htm

Matthew Hulett

Short Hills, N.J.