Pubdate: Fri, 16 Sep 2005
Source: Minnesota Daily (MN Edu)
Copyright: 2005 Minnesota Daily
Contact:  http://www.mndaily.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1280
Author: Robert Sharpe
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy)
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1471/a03.html

DRUG LAWS

Regarding Ronald Fraser's Sept. 9 opinion Does Minnesota need a marijuana 
sales tax?." if health outcomes determined drug laws instead of cultural 
norms, marijuana would be legal.

Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death, 
nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. Marijuana can be 
harmful if abused, but jail cells are inappropriate as health interventions 
and ineffective as deterrents.

The first marijuana laws were enacted in response to Mexican migration 
during the early 1900s, despite opposition from the American Medical 
Association.

Dire warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been 
counterproductive at best.

White Americans did not even begin to smoke marijuana until a soon-to-be 
entrenched government bureaucracy began funding reefer madness propaganda.

By raiding voter-approved medical marijuana providers in California, the 
very same U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that claims illicit drug use 
funds terrorism is forcing cancer and AIDS patients into the hands of 
street dealers.

Apparently marijuana prohibition is more important than protecting the 
country from terrorism. Students who want to help end the intergenerational 
culture war otherwise known as the war on some drugs should contact 
Students for Sensible Drug Policy at www.ssdp.org.

Robert Sharpe, policy analyst

Common Sense for Drug Policy
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman