Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jan 2003
Source: Tullahoma News (TN)
Copyright: The Tullahoma News 2003
Contact: 
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=49033&BRD=1614&PAG=461&dept_id=161070&
Website: http://www.tullahomanews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2031
Author: Dan Bray

TO THE EDITOR:

The drug problem in Tennessee as well as nation-wide doesn't seem to be 
going away although the federal government spends countless millions of 
dollars each year on the war on drugs.

The following information was released by a congressional committee in 
1972. March 22, 2002, marked the 30th anniversary of the release of one of 
the most ground-breaking reports in the history of American drug policy.

Thirty years ago, a Congressionally created commission called the National 
Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse, whose members were appointed by 
then-President Richard Nixon, completed the most comprehensive review ever 
undertaken regarding marijuana and public policy.

Their report, entitled "Marijuana: A Signal of Misunderstanding," boldly 
proclaimed that "neither the marihuana user nor the drug itself can be said 
to constitute a danger to public safety," and recommended Congress and 
state legislatures eliminate all penalties for the private possession and 
use of marijuana and for the casual distribution of marijuana for personal use.

Although largely ignored by President Nixon and Congress at the time, the 
recommendations of the commission had a major impact on state marijuana laws.

Based on the Marijuana Commission report, 11 states decriminalized minor 
marijuana offenses during the 1970s. By 1977, even the president of the 
United States was convinced, as then-President Jimmy Carter - citing the 
Marijuana Commission - told Congress: "Penalties against drug use should 
not be more damaging to the individual than the use of the drug itself. 
Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marijuana 
in private for personal use."

That recommendation was good public policy when it was made, and it remains 
valid today. And the American public is increasingly in agreement that we 
should stop arresting responsible marijuana smokers.

A December 2001 nationwide Zogby poll commissioned by the NORML

Foundation found that 61 percent of likely voters oppose arresting and 
jailing marijuana smokers; only 33 percent favor current policies.

The public understands the difference between marijuana and more dangerous 
drugs, and they don't want to waste $25,000,000 per year to lock up 
nonviolent marijuana smokers.

Although I do not personally advocate the use of any illegal substances, I 
do take great offence to the wasting of tax dollars to lock up marijuana 
offenders. This money could be much better utilized for violent sex 
offenders and murderers.

Dan Bray

Spring Hill
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