Letters to the Editor

Rethink "War on Drugs" argument

To the Editor:

I found the Oct. 11 article "U.S. can't solve the drug problem by legalizing" to be poorly researched and lacking in evidence. Author Charbel Barakat promoted "stiff consequences for drug use" above all other methods to control drug abuse. It seems that bigger prisons would apparently be more effective in helping fight the "Drug War" than, say, schools and hospitals. In fact, every major independent study undertaken on the topic has concluded this: The current system does not work. Pouring even more tax dollars to increase enforcement is not going to help the addict get back on his/her feet.

It seems convenient that most people don't consider alcohol a dangerous psychoactive drug. Every year, there are an average of 5,000 overdoses (i.e. death), 16,000 driving-related deaths and $46.1 billion in economic costs due to alcohol.

In contrast, heroin overdoses number about 4,000 per year (mostly occurring in conjunction with alcohol or other downers), marijuana overdoses number zero per year and MDMA (ecstasy) overdoses number, at most, two or three per year. Why the government has decided to crack down on these substances is not clear when the destruction caused by alcohol is condoned.

Many now-illegal drugs, such as LSD, 2C-B and MDMA, have proven psychiatric uses in therapy and counseling. However, they have all been classified Schedule I and are thus nearly impossible to perform research with. All I ask is that before one starts supporting the "War on Drugs," try doing some real research on what you're fighting.

Sincerely,

Justin Vinall

J-CASH not all it's cracked up to be

To the Editor:

In your quest to promote every advance in the use of J-CASH, have you stopped to think about the consequences of having every purchase you make recorded on a computer? Do you want your HMO to know that you eat a meatball sub for lunch four days a week? Sure, the University tells you that the information will never be sold, but they also told you that the Master Plan would be finished in a matter of months. When the endowment shrinks a little, JHU will be peddling your purchase records to any number of seedy interests. Preserve your freedom -pay in cash!

Sincerely,

Darnell Wilson