Pubdate: Sat, 18 Feb 2012 Source: Times, The (Munster IN) Copyright: 2012 The Munster Times Contact: http://www.nwitimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/832 Author: Kirk Muse Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n125/a09.html MARIJUANA IS A GOOD SUBSTITUTE FOR POTENTIALLY DEADLY PAINKILLERS Thanks for publishing Howard Wooldridge's thoughtful letter Feb. 12: "Marijuana Prohibition Drains Law Enforcement." 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 good substitute for potentially deadly painkillers such as 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