Pubdate: Thu, 15 Aug 2002
Source: Oregonian, The (OR)
Copyright: 2002 The Oregonian
Contact:  http://www.oregonlive.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/324
Author: Mark Greer

TESTING STOMPS ON CIVIL RIGHTS

I don't know what Dr. Linn Goldberg is a doctor of, but it certainly isn't 
constitutional law ("Student drug-test study will provide invaluable data" 
Aug. 8).

Using high school students as guinea pigs for collecting what Goldberg 
describes as "invaluable data" while stomping on their civil rights by 
coercing drug testing sends the worst possible message to the future 
leaders of our nation.

In our insane attempts to "protect the children" from drug use, we are 
moving ever closer to compromising our most precious assets of freedom and 
liberty. And none of these multi-billion-dollar attempts to preclude drug 
use have exhibited even a modicum of success in the decades we have been 
waging this failed drug war.

In fact, I would suggest that it is the war on drugs itself that is largely 
responsible for the rampant use and availability of illicit drugs in Oregon 
and throughout the nation. Prohibition has never been effectively 
implemented. It only leads to an inevitable black market and the antithesis 
of regulation and control.

MARK GREER Executive director, DrugSense (MAP Inc.) Porterville,Calif.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens