Pubdate: Tue, 10 Mar 2009
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2009 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact: http://www.citizen-times.com/contact/letters.shtml
Website: http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Rich Moore
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n250/a09.html

CLAY INCIDENT SHOWS HOW WARPED APPROACH TO DRUG POLICY HAS BECOME

Regarding the story, "Clay sheriff makes beer run for drug officers,"
(AC-T, March 3): So, the Clay County Sheriff buys and distributes
alcoholic beverages to his drug warriors while on duty. What kind of
message does that send to the kids out there?

While no human being has ever overdosed from pot and statistics show
that alcohol is far more damaging in every regard than cannabis, we
see police swilling beers while destroying a garden that produced
plants created by God and called "good" by Him (see Genesis in the
Bible). Did those deputies drive after drinking alcohol on the job? I
can hardly think of a more telling comparison than this: Beer-swilling
cops congratulating each other for taking down a harmless pot garden
meant for adult consumption; if that isn't a case study in hypocrisy
and insane policy, what is?

The Clay cops point out with their actions the idiocy of the current
drug laws and the insanity of prohibition. If cops can use harmful
drugs while on the job, why can't a cancer or chronic pain patient use
cannabis without fear of alcohol-fueled cops storming in their homes?
There is no excuse for promoting alcohol consumption on the job,
especially when guns and driving are involved.

Rich Moore

Franklin
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