Pubdate: Mon, 31 Mar 2003
Source: Ocean County Observer (NJ)
Copyright: 2003 Ocean County Observer
Contact:  http://www.injersey.com/observer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1212

GOVERNMENT FIGHTS MEDICAL MARIJUANA

I would like to respond to Terrence Farley's diatribe concerning 
misinformation about cannabis. First let me say that his comments are right 
out of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency textbook. Any lie that can be 
repeated enough is a good lie. I'll point out a couple.

His assertion that 62 percent of the 5.6 million Americans abusing illegal 
drugs are either dependent on or using cannabis is but one example of 
painting drug use with the abuse brush. The vast majority of cannabis users 
are not dependent on it but use it either for medicine or recreation with 
no discernible harm to themselves or society.

Another is that more young people are receiving treatment for cannabis 
dependency. Funny a cop would take that position, since his department 
generates this statistic, because the majority of youth in treatment are 
there because of coercion. They are given the choice of jail or treatment. 
It is no mystery the vast majority choose treatment. It's the old 
self-fulfilling prophecy syndrome.

As for the medical utility of cannabis, good old drug warrior Farley 
singlehandedly refutes more than 5,000 years of cannabis medical history by 
paraphrasing organizations whose main objection to medical cannabis is the 
delivery system. Systems not allowed to be explored due to the war Farley 
enjoys waging against American citizens.

Every federally commissioned study on cannabis has come to the same 
conclusions: Cannabis is not a gateway drug, is not addictive, and the law 
is doing more harm than the use of the plant, but the experienced officer 
Farley obviously knows better and mankind has been duped all these 
thousands of years.

BRUCE RIDEOUT

Madison, WI
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