Pubdate: Wed, 05 Feb 2014
Source: Brainerd Daily Dispatch (MN)
Copyright: 2014 The Brainerd Daily Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.brainerddispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1110
Author: Mike Holst

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

I want to join in the discussions on legalizing pot. The other day 
our president said, "It's no worse than alcohol." Reading between the 
lines he is saying, "Yes alcohol is a problem, but we tolerate it, so 
what the heck, lets add another problem to the mix." We like to 
listen to the minority in this country. Medical marijuana would help 
very few people and I don't think that anybody has any real hang-ups 
with putting it in a pill and having it as a prescription drug. But 
that is not the intent here of those who want it legal. They realize 
that this is the first step towards legalization.

Pot - when smoked - harms the body. Any kind of smoke ingested into 
the lungs harms the body. Pot harms the brain. In a state, where we 
pride ourselves on developing the brains of our young people, how can 
legislators even comprehend introducing a product into people that is 
counter productive towards brain development? It's oxymoronic at 
best. Anytime your thinking is impaired you are ripe to be talked 
into doing things you wouldn't normally do. Including, other highly 
addictive drugs.

Pot is addictive to 10 percent of the people who use it. It's as 
addictive as nicotine can be. We have people addicted to tobacco, 
alcohol and other drugs, legal and illegal and now we want to add 
another item to the menu.

The governor has said he won't sign off on this, if law enforcement 
opposes it, which they do. Law enforcement knows first-hand the 
effects of this drug on people. Legislators don't and any legislator 
that supports this has an eye on the ballot box. Maybe if they would 
concentrate on making our lives more tolerable in this state, less 
people would get stoned.

Mike Holst

Crosslake
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom