Pubdate: Tue, 31 Dec 2002
Source: Erie Times-News (PA)
Copyright: 2002 Erie Times-News
Contact:  http://www.goerie.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1347
Author: Marie Matlak

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA DANGEROUS

Bottom line, marijuana is a mind-altering drug.

Do we really need another mind-altering drug legalized in our
country?

Would you like your pilot to smoke a joint or two before flying you
cross-country? Would you like your surgeon to operate on you or your
loved ones right after smoking a legal, mind-altering joint?

We all know the problems legal alcohol, another mind-altering drug,
causes in our society. Legalizing marijuana will only compound those
problems.

Certainly, not everyone who drinks alcohol has or causes problems, but
millions of people in our country are negatively impacted by alcohol
abuse every year. The same thing can be said of marijuana.

I worked in a drug and alcohol detox facility for a few
years.

Approximately 98 percent of our drug addicts began their addiction by
smoking pot. Believe me, that's not a myth.

Legalizing marijuana would be an incredibly dangerous and foolish
thing to do.

Marie Matlak,

Erie
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