Pubdate: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 Source: Herald, The (Everett, WA) Copyright: 2012 The Daily Herald Co. Contact: http://www.heraldnet.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190 Author: Matt Begley MARIJUANA IS NOT AN ADDICTIVE DRUG Dependence is not addiction. Slight irritability and minor insomnia are not withdrawal symptoms and even the 1 in 10 who seem unable to control their use can lay the blame on their addictive personalities rather than weed. In her Sunday column, Julie Muhlstein writes of "problems pot presents" yet doesn't cite even one. Her dependence on Catholicism is far more difficult to overcome than a weed habit. I say that because religion is a drug, it makes its users feel better, soon takes over their lives, results in delusional thinking, and once hooked, the recovery rate is very low. Coffee is more difficult to quit that weed. Over 100,000 deaths each year can be linked to alcohol, not to mention the fact that most violent crimes, assault, rape, and murder, as well as robberies, are alcohol-related, making it the most dangerous drug available. Zero deaths are caused by weed. Smoking weed doesn't make people violent either. Lack of initiative is a problem for teen tokers and they should be discouraged from regularly using weed unless prescribed for depression or anxiety and is a far safer treatment than pills. If people got high as oppssed to drunk we would all enjoy a happier and safer world. Matt Begley Everett - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom