Pubdate: Sat, 31 Aug 2002
Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX)
Copyright: 2002 San Antonio Express-News
Contact:  http://www.mysanantonio.com/expressnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384
Author: R.E. Phelps

POT SMOKESCREEN

Hooray for Nevada ("Going to pot?: Nevada's permissive culture aids 
marijuana-legalization proposal," Sunday, Insight).

Demonizing Nevada is a smokescreen that hides the issue of responsible 
adults' rights. President Nixon started his war on drugs and had the 
Shaffer Commission look at marijuana. Its findings suggested relaxation of 
laws against marijuana use but were silenced to not interrupt the 
president's other "war.

"The Drug Enforcement Administration has hampered medical use, and its 
leader, Asa Hutchinson, disbelieves all research that shows marijuana's 
utility. The DEA has collaborated with groups opposed to ballot proposals 
on drug law reform, perhaps violating federal law.

As a researcher in a National Institute of Health study in the 1980s that 
investigated possible uses of marijuana, I am appalled by the government's 
bastardization of the facts. There is no addiction to marijuana; the 
withdrawal from alcohol or nicotine is much worse.

The "military-drug enforcement complex" reaps millions from seizure and 
sales of assets of traffickers. Grass-roots organizations must force 
changes in federal drug laws. Europe and Canada have, and it's time we 
consider it.

R.E. Phelps

Helotes
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth