Pubdate: Wed, 09 Oct 2002
Source: Buffalo News (NY)
Copyright: 2002 The Buffalo News
Contact:  http://www.buffalonews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/61
Author: Rich McCarthy
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1843/a02.html

WHY SUCH A STINK OVER MARIJUANA USE?

The article on marijuana use in the Sept. 28 News brought a chortle to my 
throat. I don't smoke cigarettes and have never been able to smoke "pot" 
due to allergies. Yet, for all that, the great hoopla over marijuana 
borders on the inane.

When was the last time someone overdosed on pot or ran their vehicle into a 
pedestrian, cyclist or another motorist because they had smoked too much 
pot? Many more people are dying from alcohol abuse and cigarette smoke, yet 
little is really done to curb the use of either. Why? Because there's big 
money to be made in taxes.

If we want to curb the problems with hard drugs, I've got a simple 
solution. Start handing out the same heavy jail sentences to upper- and 
middle-class white users as we do to minorities.

Rich McCarthy

Buffalo
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