Pubdate: Tue, 02 Apr 2013
Source: Herald Bulletin, The (Anderson, IN)
Copyright: 2013 Frank Couch
Contact:  http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3877
Author: Frank Couch

OTHER VIEWS NEEDED IN MARIJUANA DEBATE

I'm not a politician but a pastor. I know little of the process a
state engages in to write or overturn a law. However, I'm near 60
years old and over 38 years ago I tried multiple substances in an
effort to dull my senses, emotions and/or "get high."

Years ago, as it is still today, the use of marijuana is one of those
drugs that aids in reaching that euphoric "high" that the user
desires. It was then and is today (with most users) like a drug in
"step therapy," when the use of one drug doesn't quite do it you go to
the next more powerful choice that provides what the previous couldn't.

I'm not an expert, scientist or doctor, but my personal experience
along with multitudes I've worked with, do conclude that marijuana
alters the mind and affects one's faculties. Any recovering drug
addict will readily say that (typically) marijuana is in the "class"
of precursors to the use of a more powerful drug.

Drug addicts, addiction counselors, M.A.D.D., rehab professionals and
experts in "life-controlling" substances need to be incorporated into
this most serious debate, as opposed to just lawmakers.

It simply seems erroneous to me that we'd widen the margins of legal
permissiveness solely because we can't handle the violations. Next,
we'll be hearing of the ingenious idea of taxing the sale of "weed" as
a form of revenue.

What's to be legalized next at the expense of safety, functional
families and today's youth? Just think about it! Brad Brizendine

Anderson

National health care alive and well

National health care (Obama) is alive and well and is the law of the
land. General Motors is still in business and going strong. Eat your
hearts out, Republicans and Wall Street. Eat your heart out, Rush.

What we need in America is more taverns and less churches and the
Republican Party to stop their church demagoguery in politics.

Abortions today, abortions tomorrow and forever; and we need laws - no
protests or gathering within 100 yards of any abortion clinic, medical
office or hospital, or you're a terrorist headed for jail.

Do I hear a sound? These protesters meet all the characteristics of
terrorists (murder, arson and physical violence). No one can deny this.

As for the economy being driven by consumers? Forget about it. Without
labor, you don't have an economy. Unions are nearly gone, and prices
are higher than ever. So, how did all that union busting work out? It
will get worse as Wall Street continues to climb to record highs,
where the Wall Street crowd continues to stuff their pockets. And the
consumer makes less and less.

And, don't give me that bull about T-can autos (porto-toilets with
wheels) selling for $16,000. Those "run around town" autos were
available in the 1960s, before all that blame-game union bashing.

All those European countries we are trying to emulate pay their
employees chump-change wages and are failures when measured against
the USA, and what we were. They were all trickle-down lovers and
wouldn't know a consumer-driven economy if they saw one.

Frank Couch

Anderson
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D