Pubdate: Wed, 02 Mar 2016 Source: Bradenton Herald (FL) Copyright: 2016 Bradenton Herald Contact: http://www.bradenton.com/submit-letter/ Website: http://www.bradenton.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n099/a02.html Author: Stan White MARIJUANA DOESN'T KILL, BUT TOBACCO SURE DOES Mike McLeod's statements in his Feb. 20 letter "don't allow the smoking of medical marijuana in Florida amendment proposal," regarding cannabis (marijuana) are seriously incorrect, claiming it's "just as bad or worse" than tobacco. Cigarettes kill over 1,000 Americans daily while cannabis hasn't killed one single person in over 5,000 years of documented use. That's safety on a biblical scale. Alleging the only reason people want to smoke cannabis is to get high is equally misinformed. Many sick citizens prefer smoking cannabis, not to get high but rather desperately seeking relief from cancer, chronic pain, etc. They often wish to avoid strong, highly addictive opiates, which often makes them dysfunctional. Smoking cannabis can also help quicker, allowing people to use only a small amount as needed. A sane or moral argument to cage sick citizens who smoke cannabis doesn't exist. Stan White Dillon, Colo. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt