Pubdate: Sat, 15 Nov 2014
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Chico Enterprise-Record
Contact:  http://www.chicoer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861
Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority
Author: Larry Cooper
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n863/a04.html

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS MUCH WORSE THAN MARIJUANA

Dr. Joseph Chiapella's preferred article on marijuana is exceptional 
only because it supports his views. It doesn't address the issue of 
the side effects of alternative drugs prescribed his by his 
colleagues. By aligning himself with the Measure A crowd, I would 
assume that the doctor thinks jail, exorbitant fines, 
unconstitutional search and seizure and other abuses will solve the 
alleged problem.

The side effects of the drugs being hawked on TV are outrageous, 
which is why the rest of the ads are lawyers suing the drug 
companies. It has never happened that someone entered an emergency 
room getting chest compressions for a marijuana overdose.

I'm sure some think I am just a pothead. I smoke pot about once a 
week for insomnia and acute anxiety attacks. My other option is 
prescription sleep aids and the Ativan I was prescribed. Read the 
side effects on that one!

I had shoulder surgery and was prescribed Oxicodone and Perkocet. I 
never took one of either because of the side effects. About half the 
heroin addicts in the country started out on this junk. That was my 
choice, which this is what this whole issue is about.

Pot smokers are going to smoke pot. The only question is where they 
get it. I know many pot growers and never met a violent one. Thieves 
are violent and they will find something else to steal.

I won't grow any next year for my quadriplegic friends because this 
new ordinance gave law enforcement more power to abuse my rights.

- - Larry Cooper, Chico
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom