cannabisnews.com: Is The War On Drugs Worth Winning?





Is The War On Drugs Worth Winning?
Posted by FoM on May 24, 2000 at 06:32:29 PT
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Source: New York Post
I have studied the biochemistry of the drug known as Ecstasy, and I strongly suspect that chronic use results in a form of brain damage ("Feds try to keep tabs on Ecstasy," May 14). However, it is not nearly so scary as the brain damage apparently sustained by those pushing militant prohibition of recreational drugs. 
As voters, taxpayers and jurists, we must focus on policies that reduce the harm associated with these substances. In the early 20th century, we experimented with a unilateral alcohol ban. The subsequent alcoholism, corruption and violence will prevent us from ever trying that particular experiment again. It frustrates me to see our politicians ignore those causal relationships when creating policies for other drugs, many of them far less harmful. Danny Terwey Santa Cruz, Calif. What do the great drug-abstinence task forces propose to do about Ecstasy? Perhaps another Operation Condor will kill a few more innocent citizens, much like they killed Patrick Dorismond after he "just said no" to drugs. The drug war is reprehensible. Paul Bischke St. Paul, Minn. Ecstasy is the latest synthetic drug to make headlines, but it won't be the last. Current drug policy is a gateway drug policy. As the most popular illicit drug, marijuana provides the black market connections that introduce drug users to harder drugs like ecstasy. While there is nothing inherent in the marijuana plant that compels users to try harder drugs, its black market status puts users in contact with criminals who sell hard drugs. While a liquor store will refuse to sell alcohol to a minor, a drug dealer will sell to anyone. As long as marijuana remains illegal, the established criminal distribution network will ensure that America's children can sample every new poison concocted by drug pushers. Given that marijuana is increasingly recognized as being safer than alcohol or tobacco (it is impossible to die from a marijuana overdose), why not end marijuana prohibition? Robert Sharpe Washington, D.C. Published: May 24, 2000Copyright 2000 NYP Holdings, Inc. Related Article:Even Small Dose of Ecstasy Affects User's IQhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5763.shtmlCannabisNews View Next 20 Articles:http://cannabisnews.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/cnews/newsread.pl
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Comment #1 posted by steve1 on May 25, 2000 at 17:29:33 PT
end marijuana prohibition
we must end marijuana prohibition
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