Pubdate: Tue, 11 Mar 2003
Source: Bradenton Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2003 Bradenton Herald
Contact:  http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradentonherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58
Author: Anthony Lorenzo

CANNABIS NOT DANGEROUS

John Messer's letter demonstrates the ignorance that permeates our
society regarding the effects of Prohibition. He likely never
experimented with cannabis (marijuana) or any other substance that is
illegal. For most older Americans, this is true. They grew up in an
era when the government could be trusted (or maybe even the media
could); however, those times are a distant memory.

In fact, if you equated the effects of alcohol to marijuana, I could
understand American's fears about having more people out on the roads
under the influence of such a dangerous substance. The fact is
marijuana does not impair a person anywhere near the extent that
alcohol does. In fact, Canadian newspapers have reported on studies in
which the conclusions were the people under the influence of marijuana
were as safe or safer drivers than those who were sober. They quote a
study at the University of Adelaide in Australia that determined that
people using cannabis were safer than those who were sober.

The U.S. media has completely disregarded their responsibilities. If
the media did their job, citizens like Mr. Messer would be informed
and responsible for their own ignorance of the facts. Marijuana is not
30 times more potent than it was 20 years ago. Marijuana is not a
gateway drug any more than breast milk is. Marijuana is not physically
addictive, as alcohol is. Marijuana was made by the Creator (Genesis
1:29) for us "to use."

ANTHONY LORENZO

Tampa
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MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)