Pubdate: Mon, 12 Nov 2012
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2012 The New York Times Company
Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/lettertoeditor.html
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Thom Rutledge
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n567/a03.html

SHOULD MARIJUANA BE MADE LEGAL?

To the Editor:

As a psychotherapist who has treated addiction for 30 years and as a 
recovering addict, I want to add an amen to Ed Gogek's caution to 
Democrats inclined to support legalization of marijuana. What 
politicians need to understand from those of us who treat addiction 
is that the issues are far more complicated than whether marijuana is harmful.

As Dr. Gogek points out, addicts (I include myself historically) are 
a clever bunch, with built-in defenses (a k a denial) to protect our 
access to our drugs of choice. To focus the debate on the degree to 
which marijuana is harmful and addictive is ridiculous. Of course it 
is harmful and of course it is addictive.

That said, I have long supported the legalization of marijuana at the 
federal level, but from a legal, rather than clinical, perspective. 
Legalization of marijuana can be an important step in relieving the 
unnecessary burden on our legal system and overcrowding in our jails.

THOM RUTLEDGE

Nashville, Nov. 8, 2012
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