Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jun 2015
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2015 The Arizona Republic
Contact: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/sendaletter.html
Website: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Seth Leibsohn
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n326/a02.html
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n332/a03.html

'INVINCIBLE IGNORANCE' PLAYS ROLE IN NEGATING EVIDENCE OF POTS EFFECT

In his June 18 column ("Did marijuana actually kill 62 kids in 
Arizona? Or.."), E.J. Montini attempts to excoriate Yavapai County 
Attorney Sheila Polk for her Tuesday My Turn, in which she wrote: "In 
2013, marijuana use was associated with the tragic and needless 
deaths of 62 children in Arizona."

What is bothering Montini? A direct quote from the Arizona Child 
Fatality Review Program for the Arizona Department of Health Services 
says marijuana use is "associated" with the deaths of 62 children in 
Arizona. Montini tries to negate the role marijuana played or may 
have played in those deaths. Why?

If any other substance were "associated" with deaths, would we not be 
concerned? Why do people try to minimize the harms of marijuana when 
they ask us for proof of harm and we submit it? They do that with no 
other substance we can think of.

The public has been misled with the ridiculous claim that marijuana 
is safer than alcohol. On any number of fronts that is simply untrue. 
And, in citing the Arizona Child Fatality Review, we showed just one 
of those fronts, where marijuana was indeed "associated" with more 
childhood deaths than alcohol.

At what point do we get to argue science or common sense if every 
time we cite a statistic or exact language from serious reports those 
reports are simply tossed away as meaningless. There's a phrase for 
people who accept no evidence, scientific or otherwise: it's called 
"invincible ignorance." Montini might want to look that up, too.

- - Seth Leibsohn, Phoenix

The writer is chair of Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy. Sheila 
Polk, Shawnna Bolick and Merilee Fowler also serve on the board.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom