Pubdate: Tue, 31 Dec 2002
Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)
Copyright: 2002 The Providence Journal Company
Contact:  http://www.projo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/352
Author: Shawn Roy

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

I am writing in response to the recent talk of legalizing marijuana. Many 
people are throwing around the idea of legalizing marijuana, not just for 
medical use but for leisure use as well.

Marijuana has many potential beneficial uses, such as as a pain reliever 
and appetite stimulant for cancer patients. It can also be used to treat 
glaucoma, AIDS, migraines and spinal-cord trauma. But quite possible my 
biggest argument for marijuana is how much safer it is than alcohol.

Alcohol in general makes many people violent and sexual, or causes them to 
completely lose self-control. Marijuana, on the other hand, makes people 
mellow and lazy. No one high on marijuana is going to want to do anything 
but eat a snack.

Alcohol has really no benefits. No disease can be helped by alcohol; most 
people would be better off without it. The only physical danger of 
marijuana is lung damage from smoking it and some memory loss, which 
alcohol also inflicts. The lung damage can be avoided by eating marijuana, 
rather than smoking it (this also supposedly gives a higher high).

Legalizing marijuana makes sense.

SHAWN ROY

Providence
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MAP posted-by: Beth