Pubdate: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 Source: New Haven Register (CT) Copyright: 2014 Paul Standish Contact: http://www.nhregister.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/292 Author: Paul Standish MARIJUANA USE SHOULDN'T BE ENCOURAGED I find it a bit alarming that the New Haven Register is so desperate for letters to the editor that they now are publishing letters from around the country supporting legalizing marijuana. I read the musings of people that sound like they are living in the '60s in a Volks van with flowers on it in San Francisco. I watched a number of friends smoke grass like it was the answer to all their problems. Medical marijuana is a joke, as I know many who have it for back pain. No matter if you believe that grass is no worse than alcohol. No matter if you do not believe that it may lead to harder drugs. The reality is in most instances you inhale a hot mixture of tar and other chemicals into your lungs. Why are the AMA and others silent on the dangers of smoking grass? What lengths are we willing to go to find a new thing to tax? How are we as a society to survive when our workers are all sitting idle wondering "why is there air"? I know for a fact that grass inhibits one's reaction time and clarity of thought. How many people will die on our highways from drivers on legal marijuana? How many will die of lung cancer? We as a society will soon cease to exist if we keep on supporting the right to be high. Our enemies need not fire a shot with the country sitting around "jonesing" for their next hit. If grass is legalized, I want all those smoking it to be on a list that cannot affect my medical benefits. They should have no coverage for lung cancer. I do not feel I should pay for those who feel the need to "drop out." - - Paul Standish North Branford - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D