Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jul 2008
Source: Berkshire Eagle, The (Pittsfield, MA)
Copyright: 2008 New England Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.berkshireeagle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/897
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08.n672.a11.html
Author: Kim Hanna

PROHIBITIONIST NONSENSE ON POT

I live in Worcester and nobody was murdered over marijuana. I
challenge William Breault of Worcester ("Anti-pot activist angles for
'No' vote") to provide specifics on the case. Mr. Breault also
downplays or ignores the $29.5 million spent on marijuana
prosecutions, which keep police from concentrating on serious crime.
Cops should not be wasting time on marijuana cases; not in today's
world.

Berkshire District Attorney David Capeless is wrong about teen
marijuana usage. In states that have medical marijuana and
decriminalization laws, teens smoke less marijuana than Massachusetts
teens (according to surveys). If we change our laws we should see less
teen smoking, since the tough guy, outlaw image will be removed from
the equation.

The myth of stronger marijuana is a prohibitionist smokescreen since
any marijuana smoker will tell you that they smoke less amounts of
stronger marijuana; since it takes less to get the high they are
looking for.

How do we expect our teens to follow laws that they know from
experience are stupid? They won't! Many teens will question other drug
laws and end up using stronger drugs because of the disinformation
they get on marijuana and because of their association with the
criminal drug-selling underground.

District Attorney Capeless has confused marijuana with
anti-depressants, which can cause suicidal thoughts in teens and
adults. Nobody smokes marijuana and commits suicide; that's
prohibitionist nonsense.

Kim Hanna

Worcester
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