Pubdate: Sat, 1 Dec 2007
Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO)
Copyright: 2007 The Springfield News-Leader
Contact:  http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1276/a01.html
Author: Stan White

CANNABIS NOT A GATEWAY DRUG

The meth series contains the connotation that cannabis (marijuana) is
the gateway drug ("'When you clean up, I'll give your kids back,'"
Nov. 4) of addict's problems, which is not the truth. Almost every
study including government studies discredits the gateway theory. If
cannabis was regulated similar to alcohol, citizens would not be
purchasing the relatively safe God-given plant from drug dealers who
do not card for age. Further, after all the lies government, and law
enforcement say about cannabis, how do citizens and especially youth
know they're telling the truth about meth? According to government,
cannabis is the biggest problem in America, not meth, just ask the
U.S. drug czar. Today's pot is more like cocaine, causing cancer and
all. Cannabis, which has never killed anyone in over 5,000 years of
documented use, is a Schedule I substance right next to heroin, and
meth is only a Schedule II substance; so meth must not be a big deal,
right?

Stan White, Dillon, Colo.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake