Pubdate: Tue, 29 Jul 2014
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2014 Scott Gagnon
Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/lettertoeditor.html
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Scott Gagnon
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n617/a03.html
Note: Editorial Series
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/27/opinion/sunday/high-time-marijuana-legalization.html
Note: Fifth of five letters

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA? RESPONSES VARY

To the Editor:

I am disappointed by your decision to endorse the legalization of
recreational marijuana. Legalization would affect our youth and
communities for generations, just as tobacco has done.

The marijuana industry, like Big Tobacco, has shown that it has no
compunction about marketing its products to our young people. And in
Colorado, we've seen the negative public health effects of
legalization: increased admissions to emergency rooms, increases in
marijuana-positive fatal car crashes, increased reports of kids as
young as middle-school age bringing marijuana to school.

Marijuana is not a safe drug. It harms youths. It harms economies,
with extra social costs. How can this be the way forward for America?
Don't our communities deserve better?

SCOTT M. GAGNON
Gray, Me., July 28, 2014
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D