The Daily Collegian Online	 - Published independently by students at Penn State OPINIONS
[ Wednesday, April 4, 2007 ]

Letter to the Editor
Drug abuse goes beyond typical illegal substances

Regarding the March 29 editorial ("Case important step for students' rights"), alcohol kills more people each year than all illegal drugs combined. Prescription overdose deaths are now second on the list of causes of death from unintentional injury -- only motor-vehicle crashes is higher. Television is filled with sophisticated pro-drug messages paid for by alcohol and pharmaceutical companies. The Bush Administration doesn't have a problem with corporate drug pushers. But hoist a "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner at an off-campus high school rally in Alaska, and they will fight you all the way to the Supreme Court. It is not clear how this nonsensical phrase somehow merits limiting free speech. Culture warriors in the White House seem to think the war on pot is more important than the Constitution. It doesn't stop there. By raiding voter-approved medical marijuana providers in California, the very same Bush Administration that claims illicit drug use funds terrorism is forcing cancer and AIDS patients into the hands of street dealers. Apparently, marijuana prohibition is more important than protecting the country from terrorism.

Robert Sharpe
Policy analyst for the Common Sense for Drug Policy
 



TOP  HOME
Blogs  About  Contact Us  Back Issues  Advertising 

Copyright © 2009 Collegian Inc.