Pubdate: Sun, 16 Aug 2015
Source: Times-Standard (Eureka, CA)
Copyright: 2015 Times-Standard
Contact: http://www.times-standard.com/writeus
Website: http://www.times-standard.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1051
Author: Charles Tillinghast

KEEP MARIJUANA AWAY FROM CHILDREN'S BODIES

Richard Leamon and Thomas Hannah both wrote excellent arguments 
against legalization of marijuana. I've long vacillated about the 
issue but never thought of a contention Leamon makes that, for me, is 
now dispositive. Marijuana is often compared to alcohol as 
justification for its free availability. This argument loses its 
appeal when, as Leamon points out, it is seen that marijuana can be 
put in anything, cookies, cake, chips, candy, all sorts of things 
attractive to young kids, while alcohol cannot. Not even tobacco is 
capable of such wide use.

Probably the strongest argument for legalization is the cost to 
society of enforcing laws against it. Even this argument is weakened 
by considering the unknown societal costs of regulating its use after 
legalization.

Charles Tillinghast, McKinleyville
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