Pubdate: Sun, 05 Apr 2009
Source: Daily Egyptian (Southern Illinois U., IL Edu)
Copyright: 2009 Daily Egyptian
Contact: http://www.siude.com/home/lettertotheeditor/
Website: http://www.siude.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/779
Author: Stan White

MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGALIZED

Dear Editor:

A sane argument to perpetuate prohibiting, persecuting and 
exterminating cannabis (marijuana) and hemp doesn't exist.

One reason to end cannabis prohibition that doesn't get mentioned in 
Sean McGahan's Apr. 2 Voices blog, "Dear Obama: Get to the point, let 
go of the joint" is because it will lower deadly hard drug addiction rates.

Regulated cannabis sales would make it so citizens who purchase it 
would not come into contact with people who often also sell hard 
drugs, which would lower hard drug addiction rates.

DARE, or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, will have to stop 
brainwashing youth into believing lies, half-truths and propaganda 
concerning cannabis, which creates grave future problems.

How many citizens try cannabis and realize it's not nearly as harmful 
as taught in DARE type government environments? Then they think other 
substances must not be so bad either, only to become addicted to 
deadly drugs. The old lessons make cannabis out to be among the worst 
substances in the world, even though it's less addictive than coffee 
and has never killed a single person.

The federal government even classifies cannabis as a Schedule I 
substance along with heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are 
only Schedule II substances. For the health and welfare of America's 
children and adults, that dangerous and irresponsible message 
absolutely must change.

Stan White resident of Dillon, Colo
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