Pubdate: Fri, 11 Apr 2014
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2014 The Washington Post Company
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/mUgeOPdZ
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: J. Paul Thomas

SMOKING MAD AT MD.'S POT BILL

As a responsible, law-abiding citizen, I am troubled that Maryland 
lawmakers have agreed to decriminalize the possession of small 
amounts of marijuana ["Md. passes minimum wage hike," Metro, April 
8]. In an apparent gambit for votes in an election year, our 
Annapolis politicians have compromised traditional legal and moral 
standards. As a nonsmoker, I found it particularly interesting to 
note that many of those politicians who seem to scream the loudest to 
restrict tobacco use for health reasons are the ones who support the 
decriminalization of marijuana.

Pot is a gateway to abuse of harder substances and, with the heroin 
epidemic spreading nationwide, this poorly considered legislation is 
simply irresponsible. What detrimental effect will this have on our 
children's future health, achievement and psychological adjustment?

J. Paul Thomas, Silver Spring
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom