Pubdate: Sun, 25 Aug 2002
Source: Post-Star, The (NY)
Page: F2
Section: Opinion
Copyright: 2002 Glens Falls Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www.poststar.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1068
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1443/a11.html
Author: Vincent M. Milano
Note: Syndicated columnist Kathleen Parker of the Orlando Sentinel runs
biweekly on the opinion page of source; article referenced above also ran
in the Post Star on Sun, 04 Aug 2002.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MARIJUANA INSPIRES CORRUPTION IN SOCIETY

Editor:

Sunday's (Aug. 4) Kathleen Parker column talks about drugs, specifically 
marijuana, and if I understand her point, Parker strongly implies marijuana 
is useful in society. She (Parker) politely criticizes Barbara Eden for 
Eden's anti-drug stance.

A news flash to Parker, "there is no drug expert in this or any country." 
There are only those who have spent a lifetime to understand drugs. Eden 
feels passionate in her commentary on Larry King simply because simply 
because she lost her son to drugs.

Parker's comparison of marijuana to alcohol is simply incorrect. Smoking 
one joint certainly has more impact on one's physical and emotional being 
than having one beer or glass of wine. Parker indicates that a marijuana 
user is necessarily not a heroin abuser; according to Parker, beer and/or 
wine, in a sense, can be used interchangeably and the effects in becoming a 
heroin user -- equal.

If Kathleen Parker or anyone performed a survey or test regarding abusers 
of marijuana and abusers of alcohol, I am willing to bet that a much 
greater percentage of marijuana abusers become addicted to heroin than 
alcohol abusers.

Besides, the entire matter is academic. The possession and/or use of 
marijuana is reportedly against the law the last time I looked. Drugs like 
marijuana involve an element of society that most respectable people avoid.

The CEOs of the drug world do not pay taxes, cause chaos, and normally 
conspire with underworld characters from all over the world, including 
terrorists. To Kathleen Parker -- the marijuana trade involves billions of 
revenue that inspire corruption within our society. Whatever medicinal use 
is advocated in our society should and must be contained.

VINCENT M. MILANO, Gansevoort
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