Pubdate: Fri, 15 Oct 2010 Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Copyright: 2010 Chicago Tribune Company Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/IuiAC7IZ Website: http://www.chicagotribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/82 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n234/a08.html Author: Michael Desjardins WAR ON DRUGS NOT WORTH FIGHTING Thank you, Steve Chapman, for questioning our politicians for continuing Nixon's Drug War against Americans who prefer pot instead of other drugs ("Eliminating the costs, fiscal and otherwise, of the drug war," Oct. 10). However, you left out a major motivation why our politicians continue to order the arresting and jailing of Americans who prefer marijuana instead of alcohol or who prefer medical cannabis instead of patented pharmaceutical drugs with risky side effects. Money. It comes down to millions of dollars given to our politicians by those who benefit the most; the liquor industry (who have a monopoly on the only legal recreational drug) and the pharmaceutical industry (who have a monopoly on the only legal pain relief and nausea relief drugs). Right now our state representatives have a chance to come clean by passing HB2514 to allow Illinois medical patients to substitute medical cannabis for risky pharmaceutical drugs. It is time to demand that our elected officials start doing the right thing. Michael Desjardins Chicago - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake