Pubdate: Mon, 15 May 2006
Source: Free Lance-Star, The (VA)
Copyright: 2006 The Free Lance-Star
Contact:  http://fredericksburg.com/flshome
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1065
Author: Gregg Weedon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

ABUSE-PRONE AMERICANS DON'T NEED LEGAL MARIJUANA

This is in response to Kirk Muse's letter ["Czech this out: Marijuana 
use does not ruin a society," May 8].

Do we not have enough people being injured and killed due to 
alcohol-related accidents? I believe so, but I don't think Mr. Muse does.

He and others who support marijuana legalization seem to think we 
need to add another mind-altering substance that would inevitably 
lead to even more problems on our roads and more substance abuse.

We as a society tend to abuse a lot. We have child abuse, substance 
abuse, food abuse, and we're currently reeling from our abuse of 
natural resources.

Why would we exert so much control with marijuana? I fail to see that 
we would. It would be just another crutch for people to use in order 
to escape responsibility and fail the people who depend on them.

And it's pointless to compare the U.S. to the Czech Republic. They 
are two totally different cultures developed over time under very 
different conditions.

It's apples versus oranges. If you edit enough information, you can 
always whittle it down to what you want to read or hear. But that 
doesn't tell the whole story.

If Mr. Muse's argument is that marijuana is not such a big deal, then 
why are some people so hell-bent on having it legalized?

Gregg Weedon

Spotsylvania
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