Pubdate: Thu, 14 Jul 2016
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2016 Globe Newspaper Company
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Steve Hatch

LEGALIZATION'S FOES SHOULDN'T BE GIVEN A MEGAPHONE TO SPREAD FEAR

As a former journalist at the Globe, and as a nurse who works in 
addiction treatment, I was disappointed in the July 9 article "Mass. 
leaders join against marijuana legalization." It gave politicians 
space for their swift-boating campaign against legalizing marijuana, 
casting it as a gateway drug and tying it to the opioid crisis. I 
found it one-sided.

Of 21 paragraphs, five offered pro-legalization statements. The 
opponents "issued a passionate cry," while the lone proponent 
"brushed off" their arguments. The article did not offer expertise, 
cite evidence, or challenge statements. There is some evidence, in 
fact, that marijuana not only is not a gateway to addiction, but may 
help recovering addicts maintain their sobriety. Teen use is not up 
in Colorado. Massachusetts would be able to control the shape, color, 
and marketing of edibles.

The Globe should not enable a fear-mongering smear campaign against a 
legitimate ballot issue that would likely solve many more problems 
than it creates.

Steve Hatch, Malden
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom