Pubdate: Sat, 16 Jun 2012
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Copyright: 2012 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340
Author: John Brodsky
Page: A9

WAR ON DRUGS

The reason the war on drugs is a failure is that the negative effects
which have evolved for our protection are more easily washed away with
chemicals than corrected by alteration in our thinking and behavior
("Efforts to decriminalize marijuana growing," Monday). Except for
emotional emergencies, psychotropic drugs can be counterproductive.
Legalization in the name of personal freedom makes sense and will
reduce criminal behavior and save us much money and aggravation -
profiteering by drug companies aside - but we should not lose sight of
the fact that anxiety, distress, anger, shame, "depression," and the
like are warning signals in our lives.

John Brodsky, Swarthmore
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MAP posted-by: Matt