Pubdate: Sat, 21 Mar 2015
Source: Journal Standard, The (Freeport, IL)
Copyright: 2015 GateHouse Media, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.journalstandard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3182
Author: Brad Aukes

CANNABIS PROHIBITION IS THE REAL CRIME

Claiming that marijuana has a "lethal legacy," as Debbie Leiniger did 
in her March 7 "My View" opinion is not only specious and spurious, 
it is akin to declaring that the Earth is flat. Despite all evidence 
to the contrary.

History shows that people have always used intoxicants. In every age, 
in every part of the world, people have pursued intoxication with 
plants, alcohol and other euphoric substances. In fact, this behavior 
has so much force and persistence that it functions much like our 
drives for food, sleep and sex.

This "fourth drive," says psycho-pharmacologist Ronald K. Siegel, is 
a natural part of our biology, creating the irrepressible demand for 
intoxicating substances.

Further, no attempt to prohibit euphoric substances in more than 400 
years -- worldwide -- has been successful. From Egypt banning coffee 
in the 16th century through today's failed war on drugs and pot. All 
have been dismal failures.

Compounding this 78-year grotesque of cannabis prohibition is: When 
marijuana was first made illegal in 1937, there were no health impact 
studies, rather the reasons were couched in racism and protecting 
society from Negroes, Hispanics and jazz musicians. Even today 
claiming that they care about people's health is a cynical response 
- -- as if putting people through the criminal justice system is 
healthy for anyone.

"Nearly all medicines have toxic, potentially lethal effects. But 
marijuana is not such a substance. There is no record in the 
extensive medical literature describing a proven, documented 
cannabis-induced fatality.This is a remarkable statement. First, the 
record on marijuana encompasses 5,000 years of human experience. 
Second, marijuana is now used daily by enormous numbers of people 
throughout the world. Estimates suggest that from 20 million to 50 
million Americans routinely, albeit illegally, smoke marijuana 
without the benefit of direct medical supervision. Yet, despite this 
long history of use and the extraordinarily high numbers of social 
smokers, there are simply no credible medical reports to suggest that 
consuming marijuana has caused a single death." --- DEA Docket 86-22, 
page 56-57

Cannabis consumers are out to enjoy themselves, not destroy 
themselves. But the beat of the war on drugs and pot marches on. 
Destroying more lives than marijuana ever would or could. Cannabis 
prohibition, with its voodoo pharmacology, is the real crime.

It is long past time to relegalize cannabis/ marijuana in all its 
forms. And return cannabis to its rightful place in American culture. 
The Illinois Legislature is on the correct path with HB218 and SB735.

Bradley David Aukes,

Dubuque, Iowa
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom