Pubdate: Thu, 28 Nov 2002 Source: Pensacola News Journal (FL) Copyright: 2002 The Pensacola News Journal Contact: http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1675 Author: Robert Sharpe DRUG MYTH Escambia County principals have apparently bought into the myth that punitive sanctions deter drug use. The University of Michigan's "Monitoring the Future Study" reports that lifetime use of marijuana is higher in the U.S. than any European country, yet America is one of the few Western countries that uses its criminal justice system to destroy the lives of citizens who prefer marijuana to martinis. It's worth noting that tobacco use has declined considerably in recent years. Public education efforts are paying off. This raises serious questions about the zero-tolerance war on some drugs. Mandatory minimum prison sentences, civil asset forfeiture, random drug testing and racial profiling are not necessarily the most cost-effective means of discouraging unhealthy choices. ROBERT SHARPE Program Officer Drug Policy Alliance Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)