Pubdate: Sat, 21 Jun 2003 Source: Summit Daily News (CO) Copyright: 2003 Summit Daily News Contact: http://www.summitdaily.com/home.php Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/587 Author: Larry Seguin Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n876/a02.html?1846 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n884/a02.html?1846 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n897/a08.html?1846 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n901/a12.html?1846 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n912/a06.html?1624 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n923/a05.html?1092 PHARMACEUTICAL LOBBY SPENDS MILLIONS TO KEEP CANNABIS FROM SENIORS The idea that 85 percent of marijuana users go on to harder drugs is an urban myth ("More pot shots about use of marijuana" June 17). The drug war has been an open door for the government to control all citizens including those who do not use prohibited substances. I know some admitted cannabis users besides myself who didn't go on to hard drugs: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Gov. George E. Pataki, Bill Clinton, Gary Johnson, Al Gore, Carl Sagan, Newt Gingrich, Clarence Thomas, Jesse Ventura, Stephen King, Walt Disney, Mary Tyler Moore, just to name a few. Letter-writer Robert Cooper, I am not a member of NORML. I am a member of AARP and support the legalization of marijuana. The pharmaceutical industry spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year lobbying to keep cannabis from their best customers, senior citizens. Larry Seguin, Lisbon, New York - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom