Pubdate: Wed, 21 Aug 2002
Source: Castlegar Citizen (CN BC)
Copyright: 2002 Castlegar Citizen.
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/2331
Author: Kirk Muse
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

PROHIBITION DOESN'T WORK

Dear Editor:

Thanks for publishing Alan Randell's outstanding letter "Nothing more than 
propaganda" (8-2-02).

If prohibition worked, tobacco should be the first product prohibited and 
alcohol the second.  But prohibition doesn't work, except to provide for 
full employment for those doing the prohibiting.

Common sense dictates the earth is at the center of the universe and our 
solar system.  But it is not.

Common sense dictates prohibiting a product reduces use of the product 
prohibited.  But it doesn't.

Actually, drug prohibition has proven to be counterproductive and 
substantially increase drug usage.

When marijuana was first prohibited in the US via the Marijuana Tax Act of 
1937, the vast majority of Americans had never even heard of 
marijuana.  Now the US government estimates that at least 76 million 
Americans have used marijuana and 50 per cent of all high school students 
will use it by the the time they graduate.

People want what they are told they cannot have, especially children. The 
lure of forbidden fruit is very powerful.

What we are doing regarding drugs isn't working.  It's time to do something 
different - substantially different.

Kirk Muse, Mesa, AZ
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager