Pubdate: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 Source: DrugSense Weekly (DSW) Website: http://www.drugsense.org LETTER OF THE WEEK SLAPPED BY MARSHALL By M. Tony Anthony Congressman Jim Marshall recently gave me the back of his hand, verbally, when I suggested we need to take another look at the War on Drugs, especially marijuana. The War on Drugs is a massively expensive failure. Constitutional protections have been, and are being, trampled. Large numbers of our citizens are in prison for using a drug which is relatively innocuous, in comparison with many legal drugs with serious and sometimes lethal side effects. I wish I could believe he is a man of principle with only the best interests of the people at heart. Rather, I think he is representing big pharma and the alcohol industry. We are bombarded 24/7 by drug pushers on TV. I don't believe the congressman is mentally challenged, so there must be another explanation for his rock solid stance of support for the War on Drugs. He cannot support his claim that it has a positive deterrent effect with anything other than opinions. In my opinion, this is just one more indication of the U.S. now having the best government money can buy. Congress needs to support taking a clear-eyed look at how current strategies are affecting the supply and demand of drugs. Congressman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., has introduced a bill to do just that. There has not been a thorough, frank evaluation of the fight against drugs in decades. The drug czar office's annual report is not enough. Recommendations by an independent commission, however, could generate the consensus and strategy we sorely need. M. Tony Anthony Warner Robins Pubdate: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 Source: Macon Telegraph (GA) - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake