Pubdate: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 Source: USA Today (US) Copyright: 2001 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc Contact: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nfront.htm Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/466 Authors: Robert Sharpe, Kevin Hebert Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1558/a08.html MARIJUANA OPPONENTS FIGHT LOSING BATTLE According to the USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll, support for legalizing marijuana is at its highest level ever (''Marijuana attains record support,'' News, Friday). But opponents of marijuana regulation continue to claim that pot leads to harder drugs. This claim is a prime example of how unscrupulous profiteers use the drug war's unintended consequences to justify its continuation. There is nothing inherent in marijuana that compels users to try harder drugs. However, marijuana's black-market status puts its distribution in the hands of organized crime. As long as pot remains illegal, consumers will continue to come into contact with pushers of hard drugs. Blaming marijuana for the counterproductive nature of marijuana prohibition is extremely disingenuous. Criminalizing consensual vices such as drug use creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. With alcohol's prohibition repealed, liquor producers no longer gun each other down in drive-by shootings, nor do consumers go blind drinking unregulated bathtub gin. The drug war doesn't fight crime; it fuels crime. Taxing and regulating marijuana is a cost-effective alternative. Separating the hard and soft drug markets and establishing enforceable age controls are critical. Currently, kids have an easier time buying pot than beer. While U.S. politicians continue to use the drug war's failure to justify its intensification, European countries are embracing ''harm reduction.'' This is based on the principle that both drug use and drug prohibition have the potential to cause harm. Given the historical precedent of alcohol prohibition, ''harm reduction'' should be readily understood by Congress. Ironically, fear of appearing ''soft on crime'' compels politicians to support a punitive drug policy that ultimately fuels organized crime and violence, while failing miserably at protecting children from drugs. Robert Sharpe, program officer The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation, Washington, D.C. - ---------------------------------------------------- NO MORE 'IRRATIONAL FEAR' OF POT I was not surprised to learn that the legalization of marijuana has attained record support in the United States. As people learn what I see as the truth about marijuana -- that it is non-addictive, non-toxic and useful for a variety of medical ailments -- the irrational fear of it naturally declines. As for those who are still opposed to the legalization of marijuana, remember, every dollar spent on fighting marijuana is a dollar that is not available for fighting real crimes, such as murder, robbery and arson. The Marijuana Tax Act was passed in 1937. The prohibition of marijuana is reaching retirement age, and retiring these counterproductive laws is the only option for a free society to consider. Kevin M. Hebert Chicopee, Mass. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens