Pubdate: Tue, 07 Oct 2008
Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 The Abbotsford Times
Contact:  http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009
Author: Eric Myrholm
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n919/a08.html

PLAN FOR MAKING MARIJUANA LEGAL NEEDS SERIOUS THOUGHT

Editor, the Times

I read Bruce Codere's letter in Friday's edition of your
paper.

Some of the infomation he puts forward is cause for
concern.

I do agree that tobacco and alcohol cause deaths. His statement that
"in all of history no death certificate has ever listed cannabis as
the cause. Instead it is the best medicine we've ever used," is way
off base.

The misinformation presented must be corrected. Drug Watch
International states in part: "Leaf marijuana is not a medicine. It is
a harmful psychoactive drug, composed of more than 400 different
chemicals,which should not be used by anyone,especially by people who
are ill.

Marijuana use has serious health consequences. Concentration, motor
co-ordination, memory, lungs, reproductive and immune systems all are
adversely impacted by marijuana use; marijuana is addictive.

Promoters of drug legalization have stated that they are pushing
marijuana as a medicine and using it as a "red herring"as part of a
strategy to legalize marijuana for general use.

With all the problems which can be triggered by marijuana use, do we
need another legal, addictive drug?

What would we be saying to our young people? Let's give this some
thought.

Eric Myrholm

Abbotsford
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