The drug war is a huge policy failure.  Now the rest of the world is starting to recognize that fact .  See the recent Reuters article about Latin America.

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - As an increasingly violent and costly drugs war clogs up prisons with small-time users, some Latin American countries are abandoning hardline U.S. policies on consumption to intensify the fight against major traffickers.

Convinced that the four-decade-old, U.S.-led war on drugs has failed, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and other countries are relaxing penalties for possession and personal use of small amounts of narcotics.

Critics warn drug abuse and violence will rise if the small-scale consumption of cocaine, marijuana and other drugs is tolerated, but policy makers in much of Latin America argue the new laws will free up resources to go after big traffickers and treat addicts.

The shift away from zero-tolerance policies has picked up pace in the past year and U.S. President Barack Obama's administration has voiced little opposition to the changes. That is a dramatic switch after decades of Washington's resolute opposition to any easing of laws against consumption.

Follow this link for the rest of the Reuters article.

John E. Murphy, ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 614-221-1266) the executive director of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association has said a couple of times that the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association opposes medical marijuana here in Ohio.

Elected officials of all stripes including prosecutors are your representatives.  Please contact your local prosecutor and ask them if they really do support putting patients in jail for using medical marijuana. Below is my letter to Joe Deters Hamiliton Counties Prosecutor.

Recently I read a news article where Mr. John Murphy, the executive director of the Ohio Prosecutors Association said they will oppose the medical marijuana bill being introduced by Representative Yuko.

Is that true?  Do you support jailing people who are doing the best they can to stay alive or maintain their pain to tolerable levels because they are using marijuana?

I spent the better part of a year in a "Chemical Lazy Boy Lounge" in my struggle with cancer.  I was treated with all sorts of drugs to keep my reactions to the harsh drugs at bay.  The best substance by far that helped me from the chemical induced nausea was cannabis (AKA marihuana).  My wife was scared to death I would be arrested and lose my job, but she was also convinced by what she saw marijuana do for me that is was the right thing for me.

Now even the American Medical Association has backed down from supporting marijuana as a schedule I drug.  Along with the AMA there is a whole host of other medical organizations that say the same thing and more.

One last item, earlier in the year the University of Cincinnati ran a state wide poll on this issue where medical marijuana had 73% support among Ohio votes.  That was 10 points above what the gambling issue received, even 63% of my fellow republican voter supported it.  Please don't suggest putting it on the ballot do not have millions of dollars to run an initiative campaign like the casino owners, nor do most other patients.

Again does the Hamilton County prosecutor's office really oppose a medical marijuana bill here in Ohio?

Rob Ryan

Now it is your turn to write a letter, email or call your local prosecutor.  Following is a link to identify your local prosecutor's contact info from the Ohio Prosecutor's Association webpage.