Pubdate: Mon, 12 Aug 2013
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2013 Sun-Sentinel Company
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfA
Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n386/a11
Author: Jane Palenzuela

MARIJUANA DEBATE KEEPS BLOWING SMOKE

In response to Guillermo Martinez's column on using caution before 
jumping on the marijuana bandwagon, it is becoming clear that a 
growing number of Americans are leading theway to a better approach 
on this issue and learning about the benefits that legalization will 
have both as medicine, and socially.

I, too, was astonished to hear the opinion of President Jose Mujica 
of Uruguay, who unlike our last three presidents, has not tried 
marijuana, but has evidently tried a dose of common sense. Concurring 
with President Mujica, former presidents Vicente Fox and Ernesto 
Zedilla, you can add the prestigious names of Kofi Annan, Paul 
Volcker and George Shultz, all stating their common opinion on the 
drugwar as an abysmal failure.

I have also seen lots of folks use marijuana, and not go on to become 
dealers or addicts, or go on to other drugs. As it stands now, the 
biggest threat to health posed by marijuana use is arrest and a 
criminal record. As we have found out, it is distributed 
disproportionately to blacks and Hispanics, adding racism to this dumb policy.

The most telling part of your column is your admission to not having 
read any of the scientific evidence for either side.

Jane Palenzuela, Hollywood
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom