Pubdate: Sun, 28 Dec 2008
Source: Tribune-Democrat, The (PA)
Copyright: 2008 The Tribune-Democrat
Contact:  http://www.tribune-democrat.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4063
Author: Stan White
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n1150/a02.html

CUTTING OFF CANNABIS STOKES DRUG PROBLEMS

In reference to the Dec. 21 front-page story, "Cocaine threat growing":

What percentage of America's drug problem is due to prohibiting the 
relatively safe, socially acceptable, God-given plant cannabis (marijuana)?

Cannabis hasn't killed anyone in more than 5,000 years of documented 
use, yet it is classified as a Schedule I substance along with 
heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are only Schedule II substances.

How many youths and adults try cannabis and realize it's not nearly 
as harmful as taught in DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)-type 
government environments? Then they think other substances must not be 
so bad either, only to become addicted to deadly drugs.

Prohibiting cannabis, which is safer than beer, wine or whiskey, 
places the plant's sales in the hands of the same people who often 
sell highly addictive and deadly substances, which undoubtedly causes 
increased addiction rates.

Our government sells out U.S. citizens by accepting the arguments of 
lobbyists for prisons and the private prison industry, who for their 
own interests say that we should continue persecuting cannabis users. 
That relationship must end.

Cannabis even has a history of helping people escape hard drug 
addictions, which makes it valuable; that's an argument for it's 
legalization in itself.

The existence of cannabis prohibition is also due to the media, which 
have historically parroted the government's "Reefer Madness" farce.

Media should know better today.

It's time to legalize cannabis again. A sane argument to continue 
caging responsible citizens for using the plant doesn't exist.

Stan White

Dillon, Colo.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom