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LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Is the international drug war
starting to wind down? In a word, maybe. Which is a much better word than
the usual no we have been getting for the last 80 some years.

First the good news in Britain - cannabis use has been essentially
micro-criminalized. What the heck is micro-criminalized? It means that pot
is not legal. But it also means pot is not very illegal, unlike the Class A
drugs that include Ecstasy, LSD, heroin and cocaine. Pot was downgraded
from a schedule B drug like amphetamines to a schedule C drug like
anti-depressants, steroids, and other prescription drugs. Marijuana then
goes from an arrestable offence to a ticket only offence. However, other
laws against pot will still remain on the books giving the police a wide
latitude on who to arrest and what crime to charge them with. The British
police being sensible will turn their efforts to solving real crimes rather
than pursuing the minor vices of otherwise law abiding citizens. Dealing
and growing will still be illegal, but here again police in Britain show
great wisdom. Only the indiscreet will be charged. The police will not be
pursuing pot criminals. Not full legalization by a long shot but this
policy direction if pursued should lead to full legalization in one to two
years.

Farther ahead in the race to legalization are Portugal, Spain, and Italy
who have effectively decriminalized personal possession of all drugs.

The news in the Netherlands on the medical marijuana front is quite
interesting. Medical marijuana is to become an official government health
benefit. Patients with a doctors prescription for marijuana will be able to
fill it at a local pharmacy. Quite a contrast with our DEA who have been
arresting doctors in California recommending marijuana and confiscating
their patient records as well as busting a medical marijuana dispensary run
by the city of West Hollywood. This dispensary was run under California law
with the blessing of the county sheriff and the involvement of a local city
councilman. It seems that the DEA in America is doing its best to drive
this natural medicine underground. Despite the wishes of the voters in
California. Isn't it great to live in a free republic where the wishes of
the voters are respected? No doubt we are a light and a beacon to the
world. Without agencies like the DEA America would be just another banana
republic. More on this in my next column.

How about some good news on the American front. The American Senate in its
own small way seems to be wising up to the disaster in Columbia. The
President has asked for $731 million to fight terrorism/drugs/communists
(take your pick) in Columbia. The Senate has reduced that number to $567
million. Not a huge reduction to be sure but it is one of the first times
that a President has gotten less for prohibition enforcement in foreign
countries than he asked for.

Saying of the week:

If we eliminated all the kids who used illegal drugs before leaving high
school that would still leave half of them.

Ask a politician (since e-mail carries no anthrax and thus is getting more
attention these days I'm only giving out e-mail, voice, and fax numbers for
the time being.)

Do you support drug prohibition because it finances criminals at home or
because it finances terrorists abroad?

Our politician of the week is Dick Durbin. Dick earns our thanks as well as
our question. He voted against reefer madness jail 'em all John Walters for
drug czar. Thanks again Dick.

Senator Dick Durbin Voice:(202)224-2152 Fax: (202)228-0400 e-mail:
dick@durbin.senate.gov

M. L. Simon is an industrial controls designer and independent political
activist.