Pubdate: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 Source: Calhoun Times (GA) Copyright: 2014 Calhoun Times Contact: http://www.calhountimes.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3221 Author: Stan White Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n273/a07.html FIRED UP OVER WEED DEBATE Written in response to the March 22 column by Ben Boychuk and Joel Mathis: Dear Editor of The Calhoun Times, sane or moral argument to continue cannabis prohibition (marijuana) doesn't exist (Weed Legalization Universal? Mar. 22, 2014). Another important reason to end cannabis prohibition that doesn't get is because it increases hard drug addiction rates. It puts citizen 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 methamphetamine and cocaine is less harmful by insisting cannabis is a Schedule I substance alongside heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are only Schedule II substances. How many citizens tried cannabis and realized it is not nearly as dangerous as it claimed and believed 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? Truthfully, Stan White Dillon, Colorado - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom