Pubdate: Fri, 02 Mar 2007
Source: Triangle, The (PA Edu)
Copyright: 2007 The Triangle
Contact:  http://www.thetriangle.org
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2784
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n236/a08.html

BANNING MARIJUANA IS FOOLISH

Drexel NORML president Dan Cardillo is to be commended for raising 
awareness of marijuana prohibition's collateral damage. If health 
outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural norms, marijuana 
would be legal. Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to 
cause an overdose death, nor does it share the addictive properties 
of tobacco. Marijuana can be harmful if abused, but jail cells are 
inappropriate as health interventions and ineffective as deterrents. 
The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican 
migration during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the 
American Medical Association.

Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been 
counterproductive at best. White Americans did not even begin to 
smoke pot until a soon-to-be entrenched government bureaucracy began 
funding reefer madness propaganda. By raiding voter-approved medical 
marijuana providers in California, the very same U.S. Drug 
Enforcement Administration that claims illicit drug use funds 
terrorism is forcing cancer and AIDS patients into the hands of 
street dealers. Apparently, marijuana prohibition is more important 
than protecting the country from terrorism.

Robert Sharpe, MPA Policy Analyst Common Sense for Drug Policy
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