Pubdate: Tue, 17 May 2011 Source: Martinsburg Journal (WV) Contact: 2011 Martinsburg Journal Website: http://journal-news.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2005 Author: John Miller THERE IS NO LOGICAL REASON FOR MARIJUANA PROHIBITION I feel it would be helpful to go into further detail regarding marijuana prohibition, as it has been a topic of the Journal Junction recently. Marijuana has been widely recognized in recent years not as a "demon plant" (whatever that is) but as a heavily misunderstood resource with a variety of uses dating back thousands of years. Its original prohibition was not based on any scientific or medical observation, but was instead purely politically and racially motivated. Fear and manipulation have kept it at bay. The problems of prohibition have become obvious. Our justice system and prisons are now clogged with nonviolent users rather than being used for dangerous criminals. Our money and resources have been wasted on trying to outlaw a plant, and millions of people's lives and families have been ruined far more by prohibition than by use of the plant itself. Yet the most important thing to note about prohibition is that it simply doesn't work. There are important potential benefits of the plant as well. tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, has, incredibly, been found in the past several years to inhibit cancerous tumor growth rather than incite it, and, in recreational use, it's been long understood to be one of the only commonly used substances on which you cannot overdose. Abusers of any substance have been found likely to have started on the true "gateway drug," cigarettes. Alcohol is immensely more destructive, causing violent tendencies, loss of inhibitions (which marijuana actually reinforces) and extensive bodily harm over time. Yet these substances, which lack any redeeming medicinal and industrial value, are legal because of one thing: money. Do not be afraid to think for yourself. Please do some objective research and realize the dangerous hypocrisy of marijuana prohibition. John Miller Martinsburg - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake