Pubdate: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 Source: Monroe News-Star (LA) Copyright: 2014 Quentin Johnson Jr. Contact: http://www.thenewsstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1644 Author: Quentin Johnson, Jr. MARIJUANA LOGIC FAULTY It has been well documented by many organizations, including the American Medical Association, American Cancer Society and the surgeon general of the United States that tobacco smoke is harmful to your health. It contributes to more than 400,000 deaths a year in the U.S. and about $90 billion a year in medical costs. It is a major contributor to lung diseases, cancer, coronary artery disease as well as other health issues. And, according to the American Theoretic Society, marijuana contains most of the same chemicals as tobacco and therefore just as harmful. With that being said, why in the world would anyone want to legalize marijuana? There are many organizations including the U.S. government campaigning against smoking, trying to educate every one of the risks, and yet two states have legalized marijuana. Now there is talk in Baton Rouge of doing the same. I fail to see any common sense to legalizing this drug and I hope that the majority of the Louisiana legislators feel the same way. Quentin Johnson Jr. West Monroe - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D