Pubdate: Sat, 14 Aug 2010
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Copyright: 2010 Rebecca Finn
Contact: http://www.chicoer.com/feedback
Website: http://www.chicoer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861
Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority
Author: Rebecca Finn
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n632/a10.html

LEGALIZATION WOULDN'T CHANGE OUTCOME

I am writing in response to a letter published from Lois Jolene Cosby
of Corning, "Legalized pot would have repercussions."

Cosby used the tragic case of a man killing a pedestrian while
allegedly driving stoned to point out what would happen if marijuana
were legalized. I have to bring up a question though: If the legality
of a substance actually determined what choices the user made, why do
we have such a high number of DUI arrests due to alcohol and
prescription medications? Prohibition based on this type of reasoning
has never worked. Cosby's letter could have easily been published in
1933. Marijuana was made criminal because of racism and corporate
greed, and in truth is less harmful to our body, the health care
system and society in general than alcohol.

Temporary cognitive impairment can come from a variety of sources
including emotions, alcohol, prescription medications and marijuana.
Every person that gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle is
responsible for evaluating their condition before they drive.To use
the poor choices of a few individuals as a reason to deny freedom of
choice to all is a tragedy unto itself.

I strongly encourage people to reconsider their view on an ancient
plant. Stop listening to the regurgitated prerecorded messages and
begin gathering your own research from reputable sources, i.e. medical
journals. That is the route I took and I feel the wiser for it.

- -- Rebecca Finn, Chico 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D