> [Forwared via Dawn Walt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] > > ======================================= > NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY > 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 > Washington DC 20037 > World Wide Web: http://www.lp.org/ > ======================================= > For release: January 11, 1999 > ======================================= > For additional information: > George Getz, Press Secretary > Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 > E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > ======================================= > > > Libertarians blast Congress for spending > $23 million to develop anti-drug killer fungus > > WASHINGTON, DC -- The United States government is spending $23 > million to develop a killer fungus to wipe out marijuana plants -- a > dangerous plan that could cause an environmental catastrophe, said the > Libertarian Party today. > > "This project is the political equivalent of athlete's foot > fungus: It's nasty, it's dangerous, and it needs to be stopped before > it spreads," said LP National Director Steve Dasbach. "The last thing > we need is a bio-engineered killer fungus turned loose on the world." > > Late last year, Congress passed legislation that authorized $23 > million for research into soil-borne fungi called "mycoherbicides," > which will attack and kill marijuana plants, poppy plants, and coca > plants. > > When developed, the fungus could be released in such South > American countries as Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, said U.S. officials. > > The legislation was guided through Congress by U.S. > Representatives Bill McCollum (R-FL) and Mike DeWine (R-OH), who said > the killer fungus was potentially a "silver bullet" in the War on > Drugs. > > But Libertarians say the tax-subsidized fungus is a "biohazard" > that could have a disastrous impact on the ecosystems of the target > nations -- and, potentially, the whole world. > > "In the government's irresponsible search for a quick-fix in > the War on Drugs, politicians could cause terrifying long-term > ecological problems," warned Dasbach. According to scientists, the > killer fungus could... > > * Attack other plants, wiping out valuable cash crops. > > "For example, a chemical alkaloid similar to the one that > produces cocaine is present in many legal plants -- including tobacco > and coffee beans," said Dasbach. "In an effort to wipe out drugs, this > killer fungus could wipe out the livelihood of millions of farmers." > > * Cause many plants to develop stronger chemical defenses > against the fungus, which could then mutate and spread to other, > harmful plants. > > "According to scientists, mutated plants could pass on these > resistant genes and create herbicide-resistant weeds, which could have > a ruinous effect on farm yields," he said. "With world hunger already a > problem, why risk making it worse?" > > * Wipe out industrial hemp plants, which are legal in every > major industrialized country outside the United States. > > "No fungus is smart enough to tell the difference between legal > hemp and illegal marijuana," noted Dasbach. "This fungus could be the > biological warfare equivalent of carpet bombing -- killing whatever is > in its path." > > What should Americans do about this dangerous program? Tell > their Congressional representatives to apply a strong dose of political > fungicide to "cure" it, said Dasbach. > > "This tax-funded fungus should be treated like any dangerous > mold or mildew -- exposed to sunlight and wiped clean. Congress should > just say no to biological warfare." > > Dasbach also said Libertarians have a better way to reduce the > consumption of marijuana, with no environmental risks: Legalize it. > > In the Netherlands, he noted, where marijuana is > decriminalized, drug use is half that of the United States. In fact, a > new study revealed that while 32.9% of Americans have tried marijuana, > only 15.6% of Dutch adults have done so. > > "Treating adults like adults -- and letting them make decisions > about how to live their lives -- seems to have a stronger anti-drug > effect than any killer fungus," said Dasbach. "Wouldn't it be ironic if > liberty was a more effective anti-drug program than deadly > mycoherbicides?" > > > The Libertarian Party > http://www.lp.org/ > 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 100 voice: > 202-333-0008 > Washington DC 20037 fax: > 202-333-0072
[Forwared via Dawn Walt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] ======================================= NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 World Wide Web: http://www.lp.org/ ======================================= For release: January 11, 1999 ======================================= For additional information: George Getz, Press Secretary Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ======================================= Libertarians blast Congress for spending $23 million to develop anti-drug killer fungus WASHINGTON, DC -- The United States government is spending $23 million to develop a killer fungus to wipe out marijuana plants -- a dangerous plan that could cause an environmental catastrophe, said the Libertarian Party today. "This project is the political equivalent of athlete's foot fungus: It's nasty, it's dangerous, and it needs to be stopped before it spreads," said LP National Director Steve Dasbach. "The last thing we need is a bio-engineered killer fungus turned loose on the world." Late last year, Congress passed legislation that authorized $23 million for research into soil-borne fungi called "mycoherbicides," which will attack and kill marijuana plants, poppy plants, and coca plants. When developed, the fungus could be released in such South American countries as Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, said U.S. officials. The legislation was guided through Congress by U.S. Representatives Bill McCollum (R-FL) and Mike DeWine (R-OH), who said the killer fungus was potentially a "silver bullet" in the War on Drugs. But Libertarians say the tax-subsidized fungus is a "biohazard" that could have a disastrous impact on the ecosystems of the target nations -- and, potentially, the whole world. "In the government's irresponsible search for a quick-fix in the War on Drugs, politicians could cause terrifying long-term ecological problems," warned Dasbach. According to scientists, the killer fungus could... * Attack other plants, wiping out valuable cash crops. "For example, a chemical alkaloid similar to the one that produces cocaine is present in many legal plants -- including tobacco and coffee beans," said Dasbach. "In an effort to wipe out drugs, this killer fungus could wipe out the livelihood of millions of farmers." * Cause many plants to develop stronger chemical defenses against the fungus, which could then mutate and spread to other, harmful plants. "According to scientists, mutated plants could pass on these resistant genes and create herbicide-resistant weeds, which could have a ruinous effect on farm yields," he said. "With world hunger already a problem, why risk making it worse?" * Wipe out industrial hemp plants, which are legal in every major industrialized country outside the United States. "No fungus is smart enough to tell the difference between legal hemp and illegal marijuana," noted Dasbach. "This fungus could be the biological warfare equivalent of carpet bombing -- killing whatever is in its path." What should Americans do about this dangerous program? Tell their Congressional representatives to apply a strong dose of political fungicide to "cure" it, said Dasbach. "This tax-funded fungus should be treated like any dangerous mold or mildew -- exposed to sunlight and wiped clean. Congress should just say no to biological warfare." Dasbach also said Libertarians have a better way to reduce the consumption of marijuana, with no environmental risks: Legalize it. In the Netherlands, he noted, where marijuana is decriminalized, drug use is half that of the United States. In fact, a new study revealed that while 32.9% of Americans have tried marijuana, only 15.6% of Dutch adults have done so. "Treating adults like adults -- and letting them make decisions about how to live their lives -- seems to have a stronger anti-drug effect than any killer fungus," said Dasbach. "Wouldn't it be ironic if liberty was a more effective anti-drug program than deadly mycoherbicides?" The Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/ 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 100 voice: 202-333-0008 Washington DC 20037 fax: 202-333-0072 ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
