Pubdate: Fri, 30 May 2014 Source: Herald, The (Everett, WA) Copyright: 2014 The Daily Herald Co. Contact: http://www.heraldnet.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190 Author: Kirk Muse Page: A13 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n470/a04.html PHARMA INDUSTRY FEARS THE HERB Thanks for publishing Froma Harrop's thoughtful column: "Fight heroin with legal marijuana." Is there any legitimate reason that a natural herb that has never killed anybody should be classified the same as heroin? I think not. I know from personal experience that marijuana is a substitute for potentially deadly painkillers like Vicodin and is also a substitute for alcohol. The pharmaceutical industry knows this and so does the alcohol industry. And this is probably why marijuana remains a criminalized substance. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt