Pubdate: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 Source: Anniston Star (AL) Copyright: 2005 Consolidated Publishing Contact: http://www.annistonstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/923 Author: Loretta Nall Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) AGAINST PROHIBITION The Kerry Spencer case out of Birmingham is a tragic example of the damage prohibition (of drugs) has done to our country. Due to the drug war, thousands of police officers, drug users and dealers, along with innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire, have died needless deaths. We have more than 2 million U.S. citizens in prison, many of them on drug-related charges. Even as our children have alarmingly easy access to any drug they desire, our police have become soldiers engaged in an unwinnable war against the American people, while our Constitution and Bill of Rights have been destroyed. It seems to me that Americans have been fooled into paying for their worst nightmare, and the bigger the failure of the drug war, the more money we are asked to pump into it. I don't think the average citizen should support any government program that puts all of us at greater risk and fails us year after year. When will the needless death and destruction end? When will the citizens of America accept that prohibition has never worked and will never work, no matter how many lives and tax dollars it consumes. My thoughts are with all of the families caught up in this tragedy, which could have been avoided if people would only wake up and realize that, as in the case of prohibition, the cure is worse than the disease. Loretta Nall Alabama Marijuana Party - --- MAP posted-by: Beth