Pubdate: Sat, 26 Jul 2003
Source: Union-News (MA)
Copyright: 2003 Union-News
Contact:  http://www.masslive.com/unionnews/index.ssf
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/860
Author: Samuel Jenkins
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1128/a06.html

LET'S NOT COMPARE ASPIRIN WITH DRUG LIKE MARIJUANA

This is in response to the July 19 letter to the editor in which the writer
says marijuana is a safer drug than aspirin. The writer gives no evidence to
back up this claim.

Marijuana is considered a depressant and a mild hallucinogen. Depressants
slow down the body's nervous system, resulting in slow mental/motor skills.
So how this would be a good thing to make legal?

The number of people killed per year - or who have been affected by drunk
drivers - is more than enough to deal with. Toss marijuana use into the mix,
and those numbers go up. Are you willing to pay more in taxes so our
communities can hire more police to help control people driving under the
influence of marijuana?

What about the people who become addicted? Should we pay more in taxes to
help them?

Since the letter writer seemed so informed on the dangers of aspirin and the
benefits of marijuana, why doesn't the writer enlighten the public? Aspirin
has been used for over 100 years and originally came from the bark of the
willow tree. Aspirin is one of the world's safest pain killers and is used
in many over-the-counter medications.
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MAP posted-by: Josh