Pubdate: Thu, 08 Dec 2005 Source: Arbiter, The (Boise State, ID Edu) Copyright: 2005 The Arbiter Contact: http://www.arbiteronline.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3516 ite Author: Phil Klink Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1915/a03.html IT'S A CULTURE WAR, NOT A DRUG WAR Brandon Stoker does little to further his argument against Cannabis legalization other than trot out the same tired and disproved propaganda we have heard for years from his crowd. Gateway theory? Give me a break! I've smoked Cannabis for over 30 years (with no ill effects whatsoever) and lead a happy normal productive life and have no desire to "graduate" to harder drugs. Furthermore, no one I know who still smokes has this perceived desire either. His usage of terms like "Flower children" and "Mary Jane" tip you off right away that his is nothing more than a continuation of the Culture War spawned during the 1960's that continues today. To further fan the flames, he goes on to talk of "burglaries, murder, and fatalities." My God, the sky is falling! First off, no one has ever overdosed on pot, it just doesn't happen. And know one I know has ever robbed to support a Cannabis habit. I'm not even going to go on because it really doesn't matter to people like Mr. Stoker because they don't listen and they don't care about the truth of the matter. The Drug War itself is responsible for most of the crime involved in the drug scene by creating a whole class of criminals and making a worthless weed worth more than gold. You can't incarcerate this problem away Mr. Stoker, and caging productive tax-paying citizens for ingesting substances you don't like is reprehensible. So, enjoy a martini and have a cigarette and legally kill yourself as you grumble about all us "addicted, burglarizing, dim-witted, flower children" that are ruining your country. Pathetic. Phil Klink Ohio - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake