Pubdate: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 Source: Daily News, The (Longview, WA) Copyright: 2011 The Daily News Contact: http://www.tdn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2621 Author: Kirk Muse Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n698/a03.html RECLASSIFYING MARIJUANA Major kudos for your outstanding editorial: "Federal reclassification of marijuana a smart move" (Dec. 11). Is there any legitimate reason that a natural herb that has never killed anybody should be classified the same as heroin? I think not. I know from personal experience that marijuana is a substitute for potentially deadly painkillers like Vicodin and is also a substitute for alcohol. The pharmaceutical industry knows this and so does the alcohol industry. And this is probably why marijuana remains a criminalized substance. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom