Pubdate: Thu, 20 Feb 2003
Source: Massachusetts Daily Collegian (MA Edu)
Copyright: 2003 Daily Collegian
Contact: 413-545-1592
Website: http://www.DailyCollegian.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1401
Note: Publication of University of Massachusetts
Author:  Eric Rothermel
Note: Headline by MAP editor.

ANTI-MARIJUANA ADS SPEAK THE TRUTH

To the Editor:

I was very disturbed by Allison Leshefsky's words about marijuana on Feb. 
19. Only an ignorant person oblivious to the world around her could make 
statements like she did. To not be aware that marijuana directly relates to 
the problems of terrorism, pregnancy, etc. is just plain stupid. I guess 
the commercials only input a "meaningless implementation of fear in the 
minds of young adults." Wrong. There is a bigger picture.

They were not only attacking marijuana, which is a harmful drug, regardless 
of if it kills you or not, but in the commercials they also attack the 
lifestyle that marijuana can lead to. Marijuana is a gateway drug, which 
means that almost 100 percent of Americans who use harder drugs like 
cocaine, heroin or crack were introduced to drugs via marijuana.

And how about those pregnancies? Most young adults who become pregnant 
choose a decadent lifestyle, in which they may not specifically use 
marijuana or not be able to fight off a rape, but the drugs and their 
lifestyle dictates their bad decisions (not using protection).

Just think of a world where marijuana didn't exist. This would directly 
affect the usage of other hard drugs, the number of violent crimes and 
poverty. Are people that kill indiscriminately for drugs, money and power 
not terrorists? Marijuana provides billions of dollars to drug dealers and 
their suppliers that end up killing innocent people and creating extreme 
social and economic problems. So go ahead Allison. Go smoke your marijuana 
in your happy smoke-filled Amherst valley, murderer.

Eric Rothermel

UMass Student
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MAP posted-by: Alex