Pubdate: Wed, 20 Nov 2013
Source: Patriot-News, The (PA)
Copyright: 2013 The Patriot-News
Contact: http://www.pennlive.com/mailforms/patriotletters/
Website: http://www.pennlive.com/patriotnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1630
Author: Dianne M. Berlin

LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA IS NOT WORTH THE RISK, SAYS PA. LOCAL

I completely understand the desperation of parents seeking help for a 
child's medical problem but I do not understand the willingness to 
put that child at risk using an unapproved drug.

The appropriate use of drugs is for a legitimate and necessary 
medical reason when drug-free methods are not successful for the 
treatment of and, in some cases, the prevention of illness or disease.

It is incomprehensible to me that elected officials are willing to 
take on the responsibility of legalizing a drug such as marijuana 
without the approval of the Food and Drug Administration. Now, people 
with little or no medical expertise are willing to set this drug 
loose in communities with no independent research and without the 
approval of the FDA complete with warning labels that are on other 
drugs. This seems to be a very dangerous precedence and responsibility.

There are negative side-effects of almost every drug. We need to 
develop a healthy respect for our minds and bodies and use drugs only 
when absolutely necessary. When the side effects have second-hand 
effects, this is an important, critical consideration.

Dianne M. Berlin, Penryn, Pa.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom