Pubdate: Wed, 04 Sep 2002
Source: Huntsville Forester, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 The Huntsville Forester
Contact:  http://www.huntsvilleforester.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2430
Author: Pat O'Brien

COULD MARIJUANA BE SAFER THAN TOBACCO?

Recently the CBC brought on two experts to deal with questions regarding 
Cannabis as a drug, its uses and, in comparison to tobacco in terms of 
usage, etc. Instead of an anticipated differing of opinions, each seemed to 
be gungho for the weed as opposed to tobacco.

Well, my over-80-year mind is relieved to know that there is a smoke that 
can be safely inhaled, and based on simply ongoing observations of the mind 
and mood moderations Cannabis achieves, that five million autos heading 
south driven by pot smokers are much safer as drivers than a like number 
heading north smoking tobacco? I do not think so.

There is no such thing as a village, town or city free from pot smokers and 
very free of those who deal in the weed. To narrow it down a bit, I doubt 
there exists an apartment unit free of the stuff. Ditto other types of 
multiple dwellings and institutions - hospitals, prisons, hotels and what 
have you.

Based on my barely survivable past 10 or so years, were pot legalized 
tomorrow, the increased related activities would see me dead or dying 
within a couple of weeks. Noise, mind-numbing ceaseless noise. Noise more 
than equal of the old vaunted water treatment.

Has it yet struck you that now, with the weed legalized, dealers would 
joyfully be using pot in the manner of other retail outlets? Can you 
visualize pot as it may already be in some cases, wide open as a so-called 
loss leader?

I do not know about modern pot, but I was handed a joint back in the '30s. 
A few drags of what seemed to be the product of army barracks socks, I was 
glad to go back to tobacco.

Pat O'Brien Huntsville
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom