Pubdate: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 Source: Mountain Mail, The (Salida, CO) Copyright: 2011 Arkansas Valley Publishing Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/tA8qLKWg Website: http://themountainmail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4454 Author: Linda Gibas EDITORIAL WAS MISGUIDED, OFFENSIVE Dear Editor: The opinion you offered in the paper Feb. 25 was completely misguided and offensive. The main thing I don't understand is you continue to criticize people who use marijuana, but it is "normal" for people to take numerous and expensive prescription drugs, which can have serious side effects. Marijuana has been proven to be an effective way to relieve pain, nausea, anxiety, sleeplessness and a variety of other benefits without such side effects. It is far safer than alcohol or cigarettes, both of which are legal. How many times has someone been arrested for abusing their spouse while stoned or causing severe automobile accidents? And yet marijuana continues to be demonized, while having a couple of drinks is okay. Additionally, most conservatives - a term I dislike - such as yourself believe less government intrusion into our lives is better, but in your mind it's okay for the government to tell us what we can do with our own bodies in the privacy of our homes. You state that when voters approved the use of marijuana, none of this pot production was foreseen. In saying that, are you proposing that you knew the minds of the voters who approved it? How do you think people were to obtain their marijuana if there were no grow operations and no dispensaries? That's like getting a drug prescription from your doctor and then not being able to find a pharmacy. I'd rather have people get their marijuana from a licensed and regulated dispensary than on the black market, which promotes violence in Mexico and doesn't pay taxes. Also, I'm sure you want a balanced government budget, so let's start by stopping the insane prosecution and incarceration of pot users and smokers. Linda Gibas, Salida - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.