Pubdate: Sun, 23 Mar 2014
Source: Star-News (Wilmington, NC)
Copyright: 2014 Wilmington Morning Star
Contact: http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/submit01
Website: http://www.starnewsonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n262/a04.html
Author: Stan White

CANNABIS PROHIBITION A SOURCE OF HARM

One "workable solution" to help lower heroin addiction rates that 
wasn't mentioned in the March 18 editorial "As long as demand is 
strong, heroin will continue to plague region" is to end cannabis 
(marijuana) prohibition. Cannabis prohibition ... puts citizens who 
choose to use the relatively safe plant into contact with people who 
often also sell hard drugs.

Further, government claims heroin is no worse than cannabis, and that 
methamphetamine and cocaine are less harmful by classifying cannabis 
as a Schedule I substance alongside heroin, while methamphetamine and 
cocaine are only Schedule II substances.

How many people tried marijuana and realized it is not nearly as 
dangerous as claimed and believed that other substances must not be, 
either, only to find themselves addicted to hard drugs? Can the 
message from cannabis prohibitionists be any worse for vulnerable citizens?

Stan White, Dillon, Colo.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom