Pubdate: Mon, 20 Apr 2009
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Stan White
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n435/a08.html

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

Re: At War On War On Drugs, Diane Francis, April 18.

Prohibition not only doesn't work, it increases hard drug addiction 
rates. At the very minimum, it's time to re-legalize cannabis 
(marijuana) -- and one reason to do it that doesn't get mentioned is 
that it will lower deadly hard drug addiction rates.

DARE (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 North 
America's children and adults, that dangerous and irresponsible 
message must change.

Stan White, Dillon, Colorado.
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