Pubdate: Sat, 01 Jul 2000 Source: Liberty Magazine (US) Copyright: 2000 Liberty Foundation Contact: Box 1118, Port Townsend, WA 98368 Website: http://www.libertysoft.com/liberty/index.html Author: Robert Sharpe, Myron Von Hollingsworth, Christopher A. Joseph Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n597/a06.html Note: Headline by Newshawk VIAGRA VS. MARIJUANA In Paul Rako's excellent analysis of Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey's illogical support of failed drug policies, he asks why some drugs are demonized while others are A-OK. The answer is really quite simple. The goal of a "drug-free" America only applies to certain drugs. Specifically, natural drugs which cannot be patented by the pharmaceutical industry, one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington, D.C. New lifestyle drugs are routinely granted fast-track FDA approval, while marijuana, which has been used medicinally and recreationally for thousands of years, allegedly requires further research studies. In the short time the blatantly recreational drug Viagra has been on the market it has already killed more people than marijuana, a relatively benign drug whose pharmacological qualities have never been shown to cause a death. Nationwide, cancer and AIDS patients are being locked up at the taxpayers' expense for smoking medical marijuana, while 2-year-olds are prescribed Ritalin and anti-depressants. So much for protecting the children. If McCaffrey is truly concerned about children's access to drugs he might want to reconsider marijuana legalization. Current drug policy is, in effect, a gateway drug policy. 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 unscrupulous individuals who push hard drugs. Equally disturbing is the manner in which children have an easier time purchasing marijuana than beer. Given that marijuana is increasingly recognized as being safer than alcohol or tobacco -- it is impossible die from a marijuana overdose -- why not end marijuana prohibition? The answer, of course, is culture. The marijuana leaf represents the counterculture to Americans who would like to turn the clock back to the 1950s. This misguided culture war has gone on long enough. As counterintuitive as it may seem, legalizing marijuana would both limit access and separate the hard and soft drug markets which serve to introduce youth to the truly deadly drugs. Robert Sharpe, Washington, D.C. **************** FOLLOW THE MONEY Just remember that the drug czars' jobs depend on the perpetual prosecution of, but never a victory in, the drug war. Also, remember that the politicians depend on the drug war and its rhetoric to scare up votes (by scaring voters). And remember that politicians rely on the drug war to sustain their constituent industries that depend on the economics of prohibition in order to make generous profits and campaign contributions that keep the drug warrior politicians in power and, thereby keep themselves in business. Maybe the politicians are required to adhere to the party line of prohibition because law enforcement, customs, the prison industrial complex, the drug testing industry, the INS, the CIA, the FBI, the DEA, the politicians themselves et al can't live without the budget justification, not to mention the invisible profits, bribery, corruption and forfeiture benefits that prohibition affords them. Myron Von Hollingsworth, Fort Worth, Tex. **************** RAKO, THE DRUG WARRIOR I just finished reading Paul Rako's hilarious rebuttal of Mr. Barry R. McCaffrey. He made me laugh so hard I didn't bother smoking the joint I had ready to go. Since it stopped me from using drugs (today), I suggest you submit this article to the Office of National Drug Control Policy for credit in its payola for propaganda program. Christopher A. Joseph, Parma, Ohio - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk