[01/16/1999-12/21/1999]: 42-t-26444787-20080359F-001-002-2013

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cultivation is the best way to reduce cocaine and heroin availability'!. So,
the logic now apparently goes, let us f,ind a natural disease and use our
rising knowledge of the behaviors of biological agents to cultivate its
virulence so perfectly that it can destroy every instance of a species of
these,evil plants. Now marijuana has been added to the target list.
As far as I can see, the hope is that we might be able to deploy some sort
of a biological DEA - like a U.S. Bug Force - making extinct the species it
targets, wherever it goes ... and however it evolves.
Our world society's basic lack of lack of appreciation of the power of
evolution ~ a wound on truth that religious traditions must themselves
disinfect - is the concern ,that terrifies opponents of this flawed policy.
"Fusarium species are capable of evolving rapidly. Mutagenicity is by far
the most disturbing factor in attempting to use a Fusarium species as a
bioherbicide," wrote David Struhs, Secretary of the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection on April 6, 1999 to the Florida Drug Czar, Jim
McDonough. "It is difficult, if not impossible, to control the spread of
Fusarium species ... Some species found in Europe have been found to
originate in Florida."
How can we think ourselves wise enough in science, and sure enough in
morals, to launch proactive biological warfare on these species? We can
neither predict nor control the evolutionary and geographic path such a
force would ultimately clear of life.
More broadly speaking, other,people equally concerned about the health and
well-being of society have starkly different views on the War Against Evil
Plants. Tens of millions of Americans who have at one time or another
smoked
marijuana, me included, believe that more workable policies rest in the
direction of decriminalization of consumption. Almost all of us are deeply
concerned about the dangers of substance abuse, into which category the
legal ones - alcohol and tobacco - yield by far the most destruction. "So
why should other substances be decriminalized?" one can logically ask.
The answer seems so simple: people will find ways to buy substances anyway,
and those who have no better living to make, make a living fulfilling .
demand
with supply. With profit margins directly indexed to the danger in
confounding law enforcement, this market battle attracts and cultivates
human infrastructure'lacking an alternative vision of "wealth creation"
within reach. When the judicial wind blows over these innumerable
intermediaries, any hope of a normal iife is snuffed out as t~ey are
condemned to "correctional" facilities.
Many of us believe instead that decriminaliiation of the consumption of
certain plants is the only path that will end the cycle ,currently
marginalizing a shocking number of Americans. We believe it is foolish to
demonize plants as evil, but rather believe that scientific truth (which
most teens experience first hand) should be recognized and taught: these
substances have powerful effects which can be enjoyable ,and dangerous,
sometimes vital as medicine, and possibly even important for the evolution
of consciousness. Like many other substances, and certainly countless