Pubdate: Mon, 20 Feb 2006
Source: Oklahoma Daily, The (U of Oklahoma, OK Edu)
Copyright: 2006 The Oklahoma Daily
Contact:  http://www.oudaily.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1371
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n196/a13.html

DRUG WAR CAUSES GOVERNMENT TO SUBSIDIZE ORGANIZED CRIME

Regarding Sarah Waldrop's Feb. 14 column, the drug war is largely a 
war on marijuana, the most popular illicit drug. Punitive marijuana 
laws have little, if any, deterrent value.

America is one of the few Western countries that uses its criminal 
justice system to punish citizens who prefer marijuana to martinis.

The short-term health effects of marijuana are inconsequential 
compared to the long-term effects of criminal records. Unfortunately, 
marijuana represents the counterculture to many Americans. In 
subsidizing the prejudices of culture warriors, government is 
subsidizing organized crime.

Students who want to help end the war on some drugs can contact 
Students for Sensible Drug Policy at www.ssdp.org.

Robert Sharpe

Policy analyst for Common Sense for Drug Policy
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman