Pubdate: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 Source: Alaska Dispatch News (AK) Copyright: 2014 Alaska Dispatch Publishing Contact: http://www.adn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18 Note: Anchorage Daily News until July '14 Author: Garrett Steiglemen CHOOSING LESSER EVIL MAKES NO SENSE In regards to the Ballot Measure 2 marijuana legalization issue: I'm not going to get into the specific arguments of either side because neither side is listening to anyone or anything that doesn't support their view, myself included. I've seen the negative results of marijuana use first-hand, and nothing anyone says or does, including legalizing it, will change my perception of the drug or of those who use it. However, I would like to call attention to one tactic the Yes on 2 crowd is using that I feel is disingenuous. Many marijuana supporters will make the case that it is OK to use marijuana and OK to legalize that use because alcohol is worse and alcohol is legal. (One variation is to say tobacco is worse than marijuana so marijuana is okay.) This makes less than no sense at all. If alcohol and tobacco are so evil (and you won't get any argument from me), then instead of legalizing another evil (marijuana), how about we just ban the other evil that is legal? The historical implication of alcohol prohibition aside, if you can't make an argument to support your cause that can stand on its own two feet, don't try to distract people or justify your position by saying one product is "less evil" than another. None of them are good. See you at the polls. - - Shannon Methe Anchorage - --- MAP posted-by: Richard