Pubdate: Mon, 02 Jan 2006
Source: Columbian, The (WA)
Copyright: 2006 The Columbian Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.columbian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/92
Author: Allan Erickson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1986/a06.html?264760

PROHIBITION FAILS

The letter by Sandra S. Bennett, "Stiff sanctions curb use" on Dec 21 
was so sad.

Supporters of Prohibition II engage in fraudulent sloganeering while 
the federal government conducts a systematic dismantling of our 
Constitution under the guise of "being tough on drugs."

Some verifiable facts about today's Prohibition (focusing only on 
cannabis) for Bennett:

* In 1988, the Drug Enforcement Agency's own administrative law judge 
said, "marijuana has been accepted as capable of relieving the 
distress of great numbers of very ill people, and doing so with 
safety under medical supervision. It would be unreasonable, arbitrary 
and capricious for the DEA to continue to stand between those 
sufferers and the benefits of this substance in light of the evidence 
of this record."

* A 1974 study at the Medical College of Virginia, requested by the 
U.S. government, found that marijuana's psychoactive component, THC, 
"slowed the growth of lung cancers, breast cancers and a 
virus-induced leukemia in laboratory mice, and prolonged their lives 
by as much as 36 percent." The study was buried by the federal government.

* More people have died from wrong-address drug raids than have ever 
suffered a lethal overdose of cannabis.

Prohibition fails under scrutiny and in practice.

Allan Erickson

Eugene, Ore.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman