Pubdate: Fri, 22 Mar 2002
Source: Orange County Weekly (CA)
Copyright: 2002, O.C. Weekly Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ocweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/322
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n467/a02.html

SHUT UP AND MAKE ME A HEMPWICH

Jim Washburn's excellent column "Felony Foods" (Lost in OC, March 15) 
highlighted the absurdity of a government crackdown on hemp at a time when 
the country faces the real threat of international terrorism.

The Drug Enforcement Administration's decision to get tough on hemp 
pretzels, snack bars and veggie burgers seems absurd. Like any drug, 
marijuana can be harmful if abused.

Unlike alcohol, pot has never been shown to cause an overdose death, nor 
does it share the addictive properties of nicotine.

Unfortunately, marijuana has come to represent '60s counterculture to 
misguided reactionaries intent on legislating their version of morality.

The reefer-madness myths have long been discredited, forcing the drug war 
gravy train to spend millions of tax dollars on politicized research, 
trying to find harm in a relatively benign plant.

This country cannot afford to continue subsidizing the prejudices of 
culture warriors to the tune of $50 billion annually.

Robert Sharpe

Drug Policy Alliance, Washington, D.C.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Ariel