Pubdate: Tue, 03 Sep 2002
Source: Ha'aretz (Israel)
Copyright: 2002sHa'aretz Daily Newspaper Ltd.
Contact:  http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/807
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

THE MARIJUANA INQUISITION

The Health Ministry is to be commended for granting a terminally-ill cancer 
patient permission to smoke marijuana to ease his suffering. Not only 
should medical marijuana be made available to patients in need, but the 
marijuana prohibition itself should be subjected to a thorough cost-benefit 
analysis. There is no evidence that punitive marijuana laws do anything 
other than burden otherwise law-abiding citizens with criminal records.

Consider the experience of the United States, the former record holder in 
citizens incarcerated.

The steady rise in policing has led to a loss of civil liberties, while 
failing miserably at preventing drug use.

Based on findings that criminal records are inappropriate as health 
interventions and ineffective as deterrents, a majority of European Union 
countries have decriminalized marijuana. Despite the American marijuana 
prohibition and perhaps because of forbidden-fruit appeal, lifetime use of 
marijuana is higher in the U.S. than any European country.

Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause death by overdose, 
nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. Unfortunately, 
marijuana represents the counterculture to misguided reactionaries intent 
on legislating their version of morality.

Israel should follow the lead of Europe and Just Say No to the American 
Inquisition.

Robert Sharpe, M.P.A.

Drug PolicyAlliance

Washington, D.C.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager