Pubdate: Sat, 29 Oct 2005
Source: Albany Democrat-Herald (OR)
Copyright: 2005 Lee Enterprises
Contact: http://www.mvonline.com/support/contact/DHedletters.php
Website: http://www.democratherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/7
Author: Larry Crompton

MARIJUANA? A WARNING!

After reading Gary Storck of the "Is My Medicine Legal Yet?" 
Organization letter on Oct. 23, I realize that proper information 
needs to be submitted.

I am against the medical marijuana law here in Oregon for many 
reasons, one of which is that it is nothing other than a step towards 
legalizing a very dangerous drug, one that needs to be kept from our young.

Marijuana has been around since 1000 B.C. when it was used in India. 
It came to the U.S.A. in the early 1900s. In the 1960s it became 
prominent and was used by the so-called "potheads" to get high. The 
THC factor at that time was around 3%. Today the THC is commonly 
around 15 to 18 percent and does go much higher.

In 2002, marijuana was the third most commonly abused drug mentioned 
in drug-related hospital emergency visits. One study indicates that a 
user's risk of heart attack more than quadruples in the first hour 
after smoking marijuana. (For those of you under the influence, 
that's four times.)

Marijuana also has the potential to promote cancer. Marijuana smoke 
contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco 
smoke. This means marijuana may increase the risk of cancer more than 
smoking tobacco.

It is true that smoking marijuana can help relieve the effects of 
chemo on cancer patients and can build an appetite in HIV and AIDS 
patients. But giving a cancer causing drug to a cancer patient and a 
cancer causing drug to an AIDS patient makes as much sense as playing 
Russian roulette with a fully loaded gun.

There is a drug that takes the place of marijuana. It is called 
Marinol or Dronabinol and it was designed to be used in the place of 
smoking marijuana. It is a cloned synthetic THC with no known health 
risks. It even comes in three strengths. It is not carcinogenic and 
you do not get stoned.

With smoking marijuana you are impaired every time you use it and it 
stays in your system for 24 hours or longer. Smoke one-a-day and you 
are always under the influence.

Every politician, including our well informed governor needs to be 
charged with a federal crime for allowing this fiasco to go on. Our 
young kids deserve better than being told that marijuana has a useful 
place in our society.

Larry Crompton

Scio
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman