Pubdate: Sat, 22 Mar 2003
Source: Bradenton Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2003 Bradenton Herald
Contact:  http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradentonherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58
Author: Jose Melendez

Booze vs. Pot

Re: "Prohibition helped," sure. So marijuana should remain illegal because 
alcohol causes knife fights and drunken drivers. Whatever. The drug war is 
a fraud. The current war on drugs has been shown to increase demand and, 
therefore, illicit profits. Fact: Marijuana is exponentially less harmful 
than cigarettes or alcohol. I know the newspapers will not print the 
results of the drunk vs. stoned driving studies over the years, so I won't 
bother trying to argue that point. Suffice it to say that one or two beers 
is still legal prior to driving in most states, but I could go to jail for 
two marijuana seeds found in my car. It's the hypocrisy, stupid.

Please, if you are reading this, have a bit of intellectual honesty. Seven 
million people die every year on this planet from legal alcohol and 
tobacco. More than 500,000 of those are U.S. citizens. Poison is legal, 
just not pot. But wait, I'm willing to compromise. Let's try reversing the 
penalties for pot vs. liquor. That way, you can have your prohibition and I 
can have my peace.

Jose Melendez, DeLand
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MAP posted-by: Tom