Pubdate: Thu, 24 May 2001 Source: Register-Guard, The (OR) Copyright: 2001 The Register-Guard Contact: http://www.registerguard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362 Author: Judy Nathan Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) MARIJUANA USE AFFECTS ALL Mark J. Barrow (letters, May 19) asks: "Does anyone in the universe besides the U.S. Supreme Court care if somebody smokes weed." The answer is yes. I, along with a lot of other people, believe that pot is dangerous to a person's health, possibly leading to stronger drugs, and gives mixed messages to our youths. Long-term mental and physical health issues arise especially when the smoker decides pot is not enough anymore. The medicinal benefits of pot, if any, are available via prescription. Drug use creates nonproductive individuals wanting to lie around all day with the illusion that they are thinking or being creative. When they run out, they are destructive and cranky. Pot for medicinal purposes is a ploy to get a foot in the door for future legalization (i.e. decriminalization). The most important issue of all is the mixed message we give our youths, that pot must be OK because adults want to decriminalize it. Where's our accountability as adults. It's the adults who are growing it in huge quantities. It's the adults who are selling it to youths who are reselling it to other youths. It's also the adults who push to decriminalize it. The adults are the problem; the youths are the result. Nor do I believe that aggressive marijuana use is a victimless crime. Families, businesses and neighborhoods are deeply affected by it. Judy Nathan Eugene - --- MAP posted-by: Beth