Pubdate: Tue, 03 May 2005 Source: Columbia Daily Tribune (MO) Copyright: 2005 Columbia Daily Tribune Contact: http://www.columbiatribune.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/91 Note: Prints the street address of LTE writers. Author: Bailey Hirschburg LETTER WRITER MISINFORMED ABOUT EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA Editor, the Tribune: I was thrilled to see a recent response to my statements in an April 17 Tribune article! The letter showcased classic misconceptions about marijuana. Amy Anderson isn't ignorant; she's just received a lot of misinformation. In fact, marijuana has a tenth the number of chemicals in a cigarette; besides, the number of chemicals is a horrible measure for the threat a substance poses. How many chemicals does a protein bar have? Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows marijuana's potential for abuse is on par with caffeine; see www.drugwarfacts.org/addictiv.htm. When any drug abuse or dependence occurs, treatment has been proved to be more effective than incarceration. Even the Center for Policy Alternatives notes, "A 2003 study found that nonviolent drug offenders who complete judge-supervised treatment programs are 29 percent less likely than those who serve prison time to commit crimes again." This is why drug treatment is one of the chief options for judges under Proposition 2. I can't agree more that field-testing for impaired drivers is a necessity, but even research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concludes that "the fact that a drug is illicit does not necessarily imply that it impairs driving." Epitope Inc. has gotten Food and Drug Administration approval to manufacture a saliva test that can detect marijuana for four to 10 hours after use, easily covering the period of possible intoxication. Without doubt, those who are too intoxicated to drive, no matter what the substance, should be taken off the road. Bailey Hirschburg - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFLorida)