Pubdate: Tue, 07 Jan 2020 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Copyright: 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Contact: http://www.wsj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487 Author: Thomas J. Madejski, M.D. Note: Headline by Newshawk THE HARMS OF MARIJUANA ARE IGNORED Regarding your editorial "The Vaping-Marijuana Nexus" (Dec. 26): Tobacco, marijuana and vaping companies mislead the public on the clear harms associated with wider use of today's higher-THC-content marijuana and inhaling substances other than clean air. Opponents of expansion of marijuana availability acknowledge concerns about disparate enforcement of drug laws. But the costs to society from legitimizing the addiction industry far outweigh the benefits. Meanwhile, proponents of recreational marijuana push the false narrative of a tax windfall for governments and improved safety for users while ignoring the harms: mental-health issues, addiction, acute and chronic lung disease, domestic violence and more. Thomas J. Madejski, M.D. Albion, N.Y. Dr. Madejski was president of the Medical Society of the State of New York from 2018 to 2019. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt