Pubdate: Thu, 03 Jul 2014
Source: Buffalo News (NY)
Copyright: 2014 The Buffalo News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/GXIzebQL
Website: http://www.buffalonews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/61
Author: Marshall J. Duguay
Page: A9

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WOULD BE HUGE MISTAKE

As a husband, parent and grandparent, I feel some concern over the
haste to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana.

There are too many unknowns. We do know that there are properties in
marijuana currently available in some prescription drugs. We do know
the deleterious effects that marijuana has on the developing brains of
children and young adults. However, there is an additional factor that
we do not know. At one time, I worked at Roswell Park Cancer
Institute. While there I served as a member of the Cigarette Cancer
Committee. I recall discussion as to the increased harmfulness of
cigarette smoking that is directly attributable to depth of inhalation
and length of time held. I believe that the act of smoking marijuana
actually requires this exact behavior.

This suggests a prescription for trouble. I believe we should
objectively evaluate this and other potential dangers before we plunge
headlong into such a vast and uncharted national mistake. Unless of
course, the reason we do not is the enormous financial profit and
votes, rather than the likely loss of health and life. A dose of
reason is in order.

Marshall J. Duguay, Ph.D. Buffalo
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MAP posted-by: Matt