Pubdate: Mon, 05 May 2008 Source: Detroit News (MI) Copyright: 2008, The Detroit News Contact: http://detnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/126 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n442/a08.html Author: Raymond Dubiel Note: This is one of eight letters printed on page A18 of The Detroit News under the banner headline "Should state legalize medical use of marijuana?" filling about half the page opposite the editorial. REGULATE WEED LIKE ALCOHOL As a conservative, I am against the legalization of any drug. Let's take a look at marijuana. From the seed to the smoke, it is not changed, manufactured or even laced with anything. It is not strong enough naturally to hurt you so how can that be a drug? It is a natural plant no different than tobacco and that has nicotine in it. Weed is not addicting, has no long-term effects and only contributes to crime because of its illegality. If marijuana were legal here, there wouldn't be drug lords running its supply from Venezuela and other communist countries. If we can regulate alcohol then we can regulate marijuana. Raymond Dubiel Lake Orion - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake