Pubdate: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI) Copyright: 2000 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. Contact: P.O. Box 3110 Honolulu, HI 96802 Fax: (808) 525-8037 Website: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ Author: Eric Terashima MARIJUANA WAR ON DRUGS IS WAR AGAINST PEOPLE The Sept. 5 editorial "Big Isle ambivalence leads to pot war lag" expressesa myopic view of the marijuana eradication issue and is an insult to Big Isle residents. The federally funded "war on drugs" is criminogenic by artificially inflating the price of marijuana, making it a commodity more valuable than gold. That criminals will deal in an illegal, high-value product and that they will use violence to protect their turf are no-brainers. But we continually refuse to legalize marijuana to remove the profit motive. Since we seem to have learned nothing from Prohibition, when alcohol was made illegal, we are doomed to repeat all the mistakes of that era. The "war on drugs" is really a war against the American people. Look at the increased U.S. prison population with the high percentage of non-violent drug offenders. Also, the use of "no-knock entry" and "asset forfeiture" by increasingly militarized police forces are violations of our constitutionally protected rights. Buzzing helicopters, flak-jacketed police, poisonous plant sprays, panic-stricken farm animals -- some Big Isle residents have been enduring these for years. It's time to re-examine the war on drugs. Eric Terashima Hilo - ---