Late last year, Congress passed legislation that
authorized $23 million for research into soil-borne fungi called
"mycoherbicides," which will attack and kill marijuana plants, poppy
plants, and coca plants.

When developed, the fungus could be released in
such South American countries as Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, said U.S.
officials. The legislation was guided through Congress by U.S.
Representatives Bill McCollum (R-FL) and Mike DeWine (R-OH), who said
the killer fungus was potentially a "silver bullet" in the War on
Drugs.

But Libertarians say the tax-subsidized fungus is
a "biohazard" that could have a disastrous impact on the ecosystems of
the target nations -- and, potentially, the whole world.

"In the government's irresponsible search for a
quick-fix in the War on Drugs, politicians could cause terrifying
long-term ecological problems," warned Dasbach. According to scientists,
the killer fungus could..
* Attack other plants, wiping out valuable cash crops.

"For example, a chemical alkaloid similar to the one that
produces cocaine is present in many legal plants -- including tobacco
and coffee beans," said Dasbach. "In an effort to wipe out drugs, this
killer fungus could wipe out the livelihood of millions of farmers."
Cause many plants to develop stronger chemical defenses
against the fungus, which could then mutate and spread to other,
harmful plants.

"According to scientists, mutated plants could pass on these
resistant genes and create herbicide-resistant weeds, which could have
a ruinous effect on farm yields," he said. "With world hunger already a
problem, why risk making it worse?"

Wipe out industrial hemp plants, which are legal in every
major industrialized country outside the United States.

"No fungus is smart enough to tell the difference between legal
hemp and illegal marijuana," noted Dasbach. "This fungus could be the
biological warfare equivalent of carpet bombing -- killing whatever is
in its path."

What should Americans do about this dangerous program? Tell
their Congressional representatives to apply a strong dose of political
fungicide to "cure" it, said Dasbach.

"This tax-funded fungus should be treated like any dangerous
mold or mildew -- exposed to sunlight and wiped clean. Congress should
just say no to biological warfare."

Dasbach also said Libertarians have a better way to reduce the
consumption of marijuana, with no environmental risks: Legalize it.

In the Netherlands, he noted, where marijuana is
decriminalized, drug use is half that of the United States. In fact, a
new study revealed that while 32.9% of Americans have tried marijuana,
only 15.6% of Dutch adults have done so.

"Treating adults like adults -- and letting them make
decisions about how to live their lives -- seems to have a stronger
anti-drug effect than any killer fungus," said Dasbach. "Wouldn't it be
ironic if liberty was a more effective anti-drug program than deadly
mycoherbicides?"

Dan Clore

The Website of Lord We˙rdgliffe:
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/9879/index.html
Welcome to the Waughters....