Pubdate: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 Source: Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) Copyright: 2007 Kalamazoo Gazette Contact: http://www.mlive.com/kzgazette/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/588 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n040/a10.html Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n040/a09.html Author: Stan White MANY BENEFITS WOULD FOLLOW LEGALIZATION Tim Pearcy's and Zak Kusz's Jan. 9 letters contain considerations to perpetuate marijuana prohibition that are flawed with outdated reefer-madness propaganda. Historically, even government studies discredit the gateway theory. Arguments that marijuana causes cancer are mistaken since there are no dead bodies to show for it. International studies indicate, in some cases, that citizens who smoke marijuana are safer drivers than citizens who have not smoked marijuana. Marijuana prohibition negatively effects people's lives in countless ways. Legalizing marijuana would allow police to focus on crime, eliminate control of marijuana on the black market, provide taxation benefits, government credibility, medicinal use and free up prison space, among other things. With sincere, thorough research, those letter writers are likely to think differently in the future. Stan White Dillon, Colo. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake