$3.6 Million for studies of drugged up monkeys on Taxpayer's Tab

Where's PETA when we need them? The National Institute for Drug Abuse, a division of the National Institute of Health, received $3.6 million over the last 10 years to get rhesus monkeys to smoke PCP, Heroin, Meth and Cocaine. One study even researched the effects of drugs on female monkeys during different stages of their menstrual cycles. I can just hear ex Madame House Speaker Nancy Pelosi complaining of gender discrimination because no studies were made of the effects of contraband drugs on male monkey menstrual cycles. What an affront, wait, make that assault on women such as Ms. Pelosi.

Here's the part that's really shocking. Monkeys react to drugs like people do: dilated pupils and high strung agitated behavior. Wait one minute, don't researchers experiment on monkeys because they are so similar to humans? I've got a better idea. Leave the monkeys in the jungles and rain forests, use convicts for research. The U.S. has lots of drug addicts in prisons now, let them earn their keep as research volunteers. They can get money like research volunteers on the outside do. Maybe give them less money and a get of jail early card as a reward for volunteering. Just make certain they live drug free after the research is completed so they will not fall back to their old habits when they are released.