Pubdate: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 Source: Seattle Times (WA) Section: Northwest Voices, Page B7 Copyright: 2001 The Seattle Times Company Contact: http://www.seattletimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409 New Drug War Quelling Qat Won't Wipe Out Bin Laden Once again, federal officials are using a national tragedy to rally support for their misguided policies -- this time in the war on (certain) drugs ("Sales of traditional drug help bin Laden, agents say," Times, Nov. 9). Sales of the traditional narcotic leaf "qat" among local Somalian immigrants, we are told, put money in Osama bin Laden's pockets. But sales of honey help to fund bin Laden, too. Time for a war on honey? What really helps the terrorists and criminal networks is drug prohibition itself. Although it has done nothing to reduce demand for drugs, prohibition does artificially inflate prices, encouraging the involvement of criminals. It also prevents any possible regulation or taxation of these products by state and national governments. On the other hand, notice that organized crime isn't making much money off the liquor trade -- at least, not since the repeal of alcohol prohibition. Keith Sanders, Oakland Addict confesses I suggest that the use of qat should be of serious concern. The Nov. 9 article describes it as "mildly narcotic" capable of producing a feeling of euphoria. I have been involved in several games of Scrabble when somebody used qat and I can say without reservation that its use caused euphoria in that individual. Other participants were observed to experience mild depression and irritability, especially when it was used near the end of the game or when played on triple-word or triple-letter squares. Qat can indeed be insidious. I know; I've used it. Patrick McGraner, Lynnwood - --- MAP posted-by: Beth