Pubdate: Wed, 12 Mar 2014
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2014 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Author: Adriana Cohen
Page: 8

LET'S WEED OUT IDEA THAT POT IS NOT HARMFUL

Why are states around the country, including Massachusetts, legalizing
marijuana when it's considered a gateway drug to harder drugs and even
addiction? Is this really a good idea? Not to former heroin addict and
NBA player Chris Herren. In an eye-opening interview on "Trending Now"
yesterday, the founder of The Herren Project expressed his concerns
about marijuana legalization. "I think it's a problem. I think our
kids have enough out there to worry about, they don't need another
drug so readily available to them."

So what may seem like an "innocent" drug is not so innocent to the 30
million Americans who presently suffer with addiction. Herren
explained that 90 percent of addicts first started using pot or
alcohol as teenagers. That led to much more dangerous and addictive
drugs such as OxyContin, meth, cocaine, heroin, etc. So when President
Obama says pot is "no more dangerous than alcohol," as he did in a New
Yorker interview this past January, think again.

We've made enormous progress getting millions of people to quit
smoking thanks to a massive education campaign spearheaded by the
American Cancer Society and other health organizations. These groups
have taught the public of the dangers of cigarette smoking.

So why are we legalizing marijuana, encouraging the public to smoke
pot? With respect to public health, we're going backward.

Smoking is smoking. I don't care if you're inhaling tobacco or a
mind-altering substance. You're smoking. Let's not ignore the health
impact.

I'm not saying we ban marijuana for sick people who sincerely need
marijuana for pain management. I'm talking about all those people -
including teenagers - who will inevitably find it easier to get
marijuana and abuse it for recreational use.

What kind of message does legalizing marijuana send to the public,
especially young kids? On one hand, cigarettes have been vilified and
banned virtually everywhere, including the Boston Public Garden, yet
Massachusetts is presently in the midst of approving 20 pot
dispensaries throughout the state.

So are kids now learning that cigarettes are bad, but pot is
good?

Clearly, that's malarkey, as Joe Biden likes to say.

Bottom line: Pot isn't as innocent as President Obama claims. It's a
gateway drug to harder drugs. Just ask 90 percent of the drug addicts
in our country today struggling to get sober.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt