Senate Prez Frets Over Recreational Concept Bringing medical marijuana to the Bay State has turned into a "total mess," Senate President Stanley Rosenberg declared yesterday, and state officials need to make sure any ballot question to legalize recreational marijuana is carefully worded to avoid more of the same. "The ballot question had a lot of problems in it, it's been very difficult to implement and doing 30 or so licenses across the commonwealth, it has been very, very hard and it is not good that it has taken this long," Rosenberg said yesterday during an appearance on Boston Herald Radio's "Morning Meeting" program. [continues 295 words]
I am unalterably opposed to a legalization of marijuana, which is a gateway drug ("Snuff out pot law," March 24). In addition, we should watch more closely what problems arise in the states that have legalized marijuana over the course of five or six years. Regarding medical marijuana, for those who need it, perhaps it could have been synthesized in pill form and sold out of CVS or Walgreens. Or perhaps the medical marijuana could be delivered in some other way, such as e-cigarettes. [continues 65 words]
The Herald editorial wonders how it's even possible that legislators can support "efforts to combat the state's rising opiate addiction crisis - while simultaneously pushing to legalize the drug that got so many addicts in trouble in the first place" ("Snuff out pot law," March 24). Actually, marijuana is the very medicine that might have staved off opiate addiction in many cases. A good number of addicts were introduced to opiates not by a marijuana dealer, but via prescription medicine. [continues 91 words]
Beacon Hill could be taking up a new bill soon that would legalize and tax marijuana, while also creating a bureaucracy to heavily regulate cannabis cafes, pot shops and growth operations. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. David Rogers (D-Belmont) and state Sen. Pat Jehlen (DS-omerville), is backed by the nonprofit Marijuana Policy Project, which also "plans to support a 2016 ballot initiative to regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol." "Voters in Massachusetts are ready to end marijuana prohibition," said Matt Simon, the project's political director. "We hope their elected officials are, too. If the status quo is maintained in the legislature, change will occur at the ballot box." [continues 97 words]
Julia Purdy worries in her guest op-ed that Massachusetts residents will cross over into Vermont to buy marijuana if Vermont regulates sales like Colorado ("Pot's just one toke over the line," Feb. 16). Doing so would allow marijuana consumers to purchase locally grown marijuana of known quality from Vermont retail outlets that generate tax revenue. So what's the problem? As long as there is a demand for marijuana, there will be a supply. Marijuana prohibition keeps violent drug cartels in business. When drug cartels control marijuana distribution, consumers are exposed to illegal cocaine, meth and heroin. This "gateway" is a direct result of the marijuana plant's illegal status. Marijuana may be relatively harmless, but marijuana prohibition is deadly. - - Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy Washington, D.C. [end]
What if Vermont legalized recreational marijuana? A report from the Rand Corp., commissioned by Gov. Peter Shumlin - in anticipation of legislative action - addresses that question, including an assessment of the potential for the state to make some money off the weed. Rand looked at the likelihood of Vermont becoming a destination for marijuana buyers from out of state. Here we learn, "There are more than 1 million U.S. current (past-month) marijuana users within a two-hour drive of Vermont and 5 million within 500 miles ... Visitors from surrounding states and Canada present an opportunity in terms of tax and fee revenue from marijuana sales and complementary goods but a potentially very large burden in terms of public nuisance, traffic safety, and enforcement costs." [continues 359 words]
Only those yet to realize that marijuana prohibition is ineffectual and unreasonable think the topic of ending it is controversial ("Senate boss to put pot on front burner," Jan. 23). What is controversial about destroying the black market for marijuana? It would make it harder for the under-aged to obtain pot, while allowing adults to enjoy it in peace and pursue their individual happiness as they might when it comes to buying (or making) beer and wine. In addition it would conserve our limited law enforcement resources. Steven S. Epstein, Georgetown [end]
Writing as a retired detective, I know the damage and danger of marijuana use ("Time for a pot caucus? Dec. 8). It is no play toy. And I believe it should be given the same rules and respect as beer. The Boston Herald editorial argues that the current system should continue. That means the cartels produce and transport marijuana and thousands of teens sell it to their friends and others. What are the advantages and benefits of marijuana prohibition? The harm is that kids may be shot or even killed selling a green plant. - - Howard Wooldridge, Adamstown, Md. The writer is a co-founder of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. [end]
Well, gee, who could have seen this coming? Some lawmakers on Beacon Hill are now considering a legislative push to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, citing steps that have already been taken to loosen the state's pot laws. "It's already been decriminalized and people are already using it," Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D-Marblehead) told the Herald recently. "They're just keeping an illicit business going." And down the slippery slope we all slide. Galvanized by a 2008 voter referendum that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, the pot lobby sponsored a ballot question to legalize the use of marijuana as "medicine" in 2012. [continues 177 words]
A self-described medical marijuana activist selling pot-derived products out of an Allston storefront insists he's within the law and state officials have no business trying to shut him down. "I'm not regulated with the Department of Public Health and I don't need to be," said Bill Downing. "I don't think you'll find CBD in the regulations, so it's none of their business. Unless it's made illegal, it's not." Downing said he began selling food syringes and oils with cannabidiol - - or CBD, a compound found in marijuana - several months ago from his shop, CBD Please. CBD does not produce the high of THC found in marijuana but is still classified as an illegal substance in much of the country. [continues 295 words]
Some state lawmakers say it's high time Beacon Hill hashes out a bill to legalize and tax marijuana, or, if left to voters, risk repeating the awkward ballot-to-reality rollout that's plagued the fledgling medical marijuana industry. "It's almost certain to be on the ballot in 2016, I think people are going to vote for it, and I think we have the responsibility to do it right," said state Sen. Will Brownsberger, chairman of the Legislature's judiciary committee. "I don't think it's wisest to leave it to whoever is writing the ballot question." [continues 364 words]
Action for Boston Community Development - an anti-poverty organization - is taking a not-in-my-backyard approach to the proposed downtown location for a medical marijuana dispensary. "What I'm concerned about is that it's everybody's backyard," said ABCD president John Drew. "You could probably have situated this shop in a better location. You're talking about in the middle of Boston. . I think it's a prescription for some real problems." The state Department of Public Health last week gave a green light for Patriot Care Corp.'s proposed pot shop at 21 Milk St. in the Financial District to advance to the next step in the process. [continues 106 words]
This issue is freedom. The freedom of choice for adults ("Pot pushers say legalize," Nov. 7). The freedom of adults to seek their own happiness the way they want without the threat of being arrested and thrown in jail with violent criminals. Those who oppose the use of marijuana are free not to grow it, buy it or use it. - - Kirk Muse, Mesa, Ariz. [end]
That Massachusetts has proven inept at opening medical marijuana dispensaries speaks to the need for full legalization ("Pot pushers say legalize," Nov. 7). The state continues to treat marijuana like Kryptonite. The plant is not nearly as dangerous (or exciting) as drug warriors would have us believe. There is a difference between condoning marijuana and protecting children from drugs. As passed by Massachusetts voters in 2008, pot decriminalization acknowledges the social reality of marijuana and spares users criminal records. What's really needed is a legally regulated market with age controls. [continues 56 words]
Mayor Martin J. Walsh, who has long opposed marijuana dispensaries, told the Herald yesterday that he's hopeful there will be "tight regulations" on a pot shop that now is one step closer to opening in Boston's Financial District. "I mean, it's the law. We're going to live with the law," Walsh said. "I didn't support it in the beginning; I just thought it was too open-ended. But in saying that, it's the law today, and everything can be worked out." [continues 323 words]
The pro-pot army is on the march. Voters in Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia on Tuesday voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana (Colorado and Washington have already done so). Here in Massachusetts voters in eight House districts approved nonbinding ballot questions that instruct their state reps to support similar legislation here. Meanwhile, the group that backed the successful legalization measure in Alaska and was behind the earlier Colorado law is eyeing Massachusetts in 2016 for a statewide legalization initiative. The Marijuana Policy Project says it hopes to build on "steadily increasing public support" in Massachusetts to make pot legal and allow the state to regulate it like alcohol. [continues 194 words]
In his first major public address, the chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court called for the repeal of mandatory minimum drug sentences. The case put forth Thursday by Ralph Gants, a former federal prosecutor for more than eight years, is a compelling one. He noted the "disparate impact" of mandatory minimum drug sentences on racial and ethnic minorities. In fiscal 2013, 450 defendants got such mandatory minimums. And while minorities represented 32 percent of all convicted offenders, they represented 75 percent of those convicted of mandatory drug offenses. [continues 131 words]
It was a logical reaction to Tuesday's double-stabbing on Boston Common when a young bystander told Herald columnist Peter Gelzinis, "Bad stuff can happen in the nicest places." But the unfortunate fact is that the scene of that stabbing, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, isn't among those "nicest places" and hasn't been for a very long time. It has for too long been a place to be avoided, a place inhabited by drug dealers, dope smokers and assorted ne'er-do-wells who have claimed the turf for their own and rarely get rousted. [continues 196 words]
Like that on-the-nose title, "Kill the Messenger," based on a book of the same name, may be too obvious for its own good. The story of reallife San Jose Mercury News journalist Gary Webb, who uncovered a plot by the CIA to fund Contra guerrillas in Nicaragua with drug money, features a powerful turn by actor/producer Jeremy Renner. Is it possible that when Reagan-era America declares a "War on Drugs," the CIA would engineer such a heinous plot, fueling a crack cocaine epidemic and decimating inner cities? It apparently is. Instead of being feted for his investigative reporting skills, Webb, a solid family man with three happy kids and a loving wife (Rosemarie DeWitt), who has forgiven him for a past infidelity, draws the ire not only of the government, but also such "venerable" institutions as The New York Times and The Washington Post because he had the nerve to scoop them. [continues 268 words]
Is Lisa Cole saying that these dispensaries that grow marijuana plants will be beneficial to her 5-year-old ("Medical marijuana patients' patience wears thin," Sept. 23)? What kind of law did Massachusetts pass? This law is not as popular as the media tries to portray it. As soon as it was passed it was clear that most communities were saying "not in my town." It is prudent for the Legislature to try to get this controversial law "right." It is important that there be appropriate rules for the locations of these facilities. And it is prudent to set age limits on using marijuana. - - Antonette Dennis, Revere [end]
Kevin Sabet just doesn't get it ("Like Big Tobacco, Big Marijuana will drive addiction," Sept. 19). Big Marijuana already exists in the form of Mexican drug cartels. These are ruthless people who cut off heads to resolve business disputes, sell drugs to anyone regardless of age and have a vested financial interest in providing cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin to consumers. Like it or not, marijuana is here to stay. The choice is clear. We can collect taxes on legal marijuana, or we can keep it illegal and subsidize violent drug cartels. Punitive marijuana laws have little, if any, deterrent value. The sky is not falling in Colorado. There is no societal benefit to having consumers continue to purchase untaxed, unregulated and potentially unsafe marijuana from criminals. Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C. [end]
Proponents of legalization and other drug policy reforms make some important points. It is true that most people who try drugs do not get addicted --- they stop after using a few times. It is also true - --- and regrettable --- that America's incarceration rate is embarrassingly high and that blacks and Latinos bear the brunt of harsh arrest policies. And, finally, despite our best efforts, fully eradicating drug use and its consequences remains a distant dream. But placing faith that legalization will help any of these issues is misguided. In fact, legalization threatens to further contribute to disproportionate health outcomes among minorities, all the while creating a massive new industry --- Big Tobacco 2.0 --- intent on addicting the most vulnerable in society. [continues 580 words]
Here's a mind-blower from the halls of justice. Johanny Hernandez kept her two young children in a Mattapan apartment allegedly filled with heroin and cocaine, and equipped with a surveillance system to guard the operation. Yet a Superior Court judge has ruled that Hernandez did not recklessly endanger her kids - despite a flood of evidence showing a well-orchestrated drug operation in the apartment. "The reckless engagement statute ... does not criminalize foolish, reckless, or negligent parenting," wrote Superior Court Judge Peter Krupp. "It does not criminalize neglect of a child or extraordinarily poor role modeling. It does not even criminalize the use of a child to aid in the distribution of drugs. ... (I)t is hardly self-evident that a person who sells drugs out of her house is likely to be robbed, and, if robbed, that her children will be physically or sexually harmed during the robbery." [continues 384 words]
With the usual fanfare and self-regard we have come to expect from The New York Times editorial board, the prestigious paper has changed its mind about pot. It now believes that the federal ban on the substance should be lifted and that the whole issue should be sent back to the states to handle. Not only did it issue a big Sunday editorial (the equivalent of a secular fatwa in my native Upper West Side of Manhattan), but it has since been flooding the zone on the issue with essays from members of the editorial board. [continues 661 words]
I am very glad the Supreme Judicial Court upheld the will of Massachusetts voters by ruling that the smell of unburnt marijuana can no longer justify searches ("Court marijuana ruling can't pass sniff test, police say," July 10). But I was disappointed in the fearmongering by critics of the ruling. Wayne Sampson, executive director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, said the searches forbidden by the ruling are no different than "stopping somebody with the smell of alcohol on their breath." As the article says, however, the court already ruled in 2011 that the smell of burnt marijuana - a much closer equivalent to alcohol-scented breath, as it signifies recent use - cannot justify a search. [continues 56 words]
Let us accept these children from Central America with grace (July 17). The hellish circumstances they came from are caused, in good part, by our own drug use. It's these drugs that feed the drug cartels and gang culture these kids are running away from to come to the U.S. We are the well from whom these children draw their misery. So let's bite the bullet ... and be generous. - - Michael J. Burke, Wakefield [end]
It's hardly a secret that this state's medical marijuana law is a joke and the hapless Department of Public Health's handling of dispensary licenses has served only to confirm that. The 2012 ballot initiative - envisioned by pot advocates as a mere way station on the road to full legalization - included a laundry list of "debilitating medical conditions" for which the drug could be "prescribed," but the bottom line was it could be for any "other conditions as determined in writing" by a "qualifying physician." That might explain why those seeking licenses wanted to locate either as near to college campuses as they could get or in areas that already hosted, say, a methadone clinic. [continues 303 words]
Moving toward the legalization of marijuana is the wrong way to go ("Pot system doped up," July 1). I lost two of my sons, Domenic and Vincent Rosa, to accidental drug overdoses and almost lost a third son to drugs as well. Those problems all started with marijuana use. I have worked the past 10 years now with youth and families - mentoring, consulting and facilitating things such as parent support groups and drug and alcohol presentations. Often I meet parents who tell me that, since their sons or daughters started smoking pot, their grades in school have dropped, they stopped playing sports or doing healthy activities, they lost their old friends and are fighting with siblings and parents. We need to educate our youth on the dangers of drugs and alcohol and have a consistent curriculum on harmful effects physically, mentally and socially. Then the future leaders of this country can make their own decisions. - - Chucky Rosa, Seabrook, N.H. The writer is the founder of Chucky's Fight, an anti-drug group. [end]
In the Bible's book of Genesis, God says: "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit" ("Lawmen side with pope against legalized weed," June 21). It's confusing then to read that the pope condemns cannabis (marijuana). Humans have been using this relatively safe God-given plant for thousands of years for spiritual and medicinal purposes. So why do the pope and the Catholic Church feel threatened enough by cannabis to believe it's important to continue caging citizens who choose to use the plant? Jesus Christ asks followers to "love one another." But you cannot love someone and cage them at the same time. Make no mistake about it, we should not support caging humans for using what God says is good. - - Stan White, Dillon, Colo. [end]
Bay State lawmen are sounding off against a Supreme Judicial Court ruling yesterday that says an officer catching a whiff of unburnt weed doesn't have cause to search a car, while legalization advocates are calling it a win for civil liberties. "How is it any different from stopping somebody with an odor of alcohol on their breath?" asked Wayne Sampson, executive director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. "The same principle should apply." Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said, "Rulings like this do nothing but handcuff the good guys and free the ones that want to go out and commit crimes against us. It is becoming harder and harder for cops to do their jobs and easier for criminals to get the cover they need." [continues 224 words]
The Herald editorial on medical marijuana wasn't strong enough in its chastisement of the state Department of Public Health, though it did acknowledge that the process is "far behind where it was supposed to be" ("Pot system doped up," July 1). It is in fact as much as nine months behind schedule. Let's fast-forward to 2016, when a ballot question ending marijuana prohibition for adults is likely to be on the ballot. Will that question give bureaucrats control over implementation, or will it apply the same laws and regulations as those on the cultivation and sale of produce - provided that both growing plants and the product of the plant we call marijuana are not accessible to the underaged? - - Steven S. Epstein, Georgetown [end]
It is useful for society to receive the preaching and writings of religious leaders, as well as that of other thinkers on matters of morality ("Lawmen side with pope against legalized weed," June 21). Ethical discussion is all too rare these days. Pope Francis' words on drugs, however, go too far. He doesn't just lecture that they are bad. He says they should continue to remain illegal. A parallel with divorce might help. Divorce can be a bad thing in certain ways. It can mess up children. People feel hurt. Moralists may very well want to preach against it. And yet, I don't want it to be a crime. [continues 64 words]
Scoring 65 on a test is usually the equivalent of a D-minus - if not an F. That's how well the Patrick administration handled the first big test of the state's new "medical" marijuana system, and yet the official in charge is simply "delighted" with the results. Time for a reality check at the Department of Public Health. In the administration's latest Friday afternoon bad news dump, DPH announced last week that 11 applicants hoping to serve as registered marijuana dispensaries will advance to the next phase of the selection process. [continues 251 words]
As a retired detective who worked in the trenches of the drug war in the '70s, '80s & '90s, I am sure the Herald's words supporting the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency were comforting to the Mexican drug cartels - which rake in billions from the illegal market for drugs ("Congress goes to pot," June 9). The longer we continue this failed prohibition approach, with regards to marijuana, the more billions the cartels rake in. Marijuana is a mind-altering, intoxicating and sometimes psychologically addictive drug. It is certainly too dangerous to leave its production and sale in the hands of criminals, cartels and teens. It should be given the same respect and laws as beer. The Herald's continued support for the prohibition of marijuana is baffling. - - Howard Wooldridge, Adamstown, Md. The writer is a co-founder of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. [end]
So-called medical marijuana "abuses" have beneficial side-effects ("Congress goes to pot," June 9). Anyone in California who wants a medical marijuana recommendation can easily get one. The recommendation allows marijuana consumers to purchase locally grown marijuana of known quality and safety from dispensaries that generate tax revenue. Is it somehow preferable that Massachusetts consumers purchase untaxed, unregulated and potentially unsafe marijuana from criminals? As long as there is a demand for marijuana, there will be a supply. This is a fact that anti-drug warriors have never been able to fully grasp. Marijuana prohibition keeps violent drug cartels in business. When drug cartels control marijuana distribution, consumers are exposed to such illegal drugs as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. This is a direct result of the marijuana plant's illegal status. Marijuana may be relatively harmless, but marijuana prohibition is deadly. Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington, D.C. [end]
I love Pope Francis. But on the question of whether we should legalize pot, he's one toke over the line. Did he miss Genesis? God said no apples. But he also said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed ... to you it shall be for meat." And what about Ezekiel 34:29: "And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land." Actually, they would be more consumed with hunger in the land once the munchies take hold. But you take my point. [continues 374 words]
Pope Francis' tough stand yesterday against legalizing recreational drugs had Bay State lawmen hoping his words will stiffen public opinion against a push to legalize marijuana here, even as pot backers raised doubts that the Catholic Church carries much influence on the hot-button issue. "I applaud the pope for taking a stand. I hope what he says carries some weight. I'm hoping that people will stop and at least consider the pros and cons of drug legalization when someone of the pope's stature has weighed in," said Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald Jr. [continues 527 words]
Pope Francis was spot on when he told the International Drug Enforcement Conference in Rome, "The growing worldwide trend by lawmakers toward legalizing recreational drugs is a very, very bad idea." Of course it is, but politicians, as usual, continue to pander to a small but militant group of misguided political activists who are pushing to legalize marijuana here in Massachusetts and across the country. And these activists unfortunately have way too much influence in our increasingly secular culture in America today. [continues 308 words]
Cannabis has been used as a medicine since ancient times - long before the Herald began publishing. And exciting research continues apace, including possible treatments for those suffering from certain cancers. Yet a Herald editorial can only speak of "medical" marijuana, instead of simply leaving out the quote marks ("Congress goes to pot," June 9). And the Herald sarcastically calls the patients seeking marijuana "poor souls whose extreme medical conditions can only be treated with a toke or two." Why not just say that there are patients for whom cannabis in some form is the best treatment? [continues 65 words]
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency is doing precisely what we would expect an agency in charge of combating illegal drug use to do. They're warning Massachusetts physicians that they can engage in lucrative consulting deals or employment contracts with state marijuana dispensaries - or they can hold a license to prescribe narcotics, which is issued by the DEA. But since marijuana remains illegal under federal law, they simply can't do both. Word that DEA agents are having such "conversations" with some of the state's aspiring pot docs is giving some folks the vapors - mainly those pushing the notion that marijuana is a cure-all for every ailment, or just a bang-up business opportunity. [continues 229 words]
I wonder what has become of rational thought in the United States ("Tax the damned weed," May 16). We rejoice that some new venue has chosen to ban cigarette use or sales, yet are racing willy-nilly into making marijuana (a product which is also taken in to the lungs and which furthermore has mind-altering properties) available for public consumption. Although cannabis has been around for millennia, there has only recently been research conducted on its short-and long-term effects. [continues 57 words]
Dem Sen Calls for Tax on Medical Weed Eyeing the millions of dollars the medical pot shops will start raking in this fall, a top Democratic lawmaker is pushing a measure to tax the weed - and quick, before industry lobbyists can block the bill. State Sen. Brian A. Joyce - who wants all pot sales to be subject to the 6.25 percent sales tax - said he's adding his amendment to the Senate budget that was released yesterday. "The reality is it's better to clarify this ahead of time than try to remedy it later," the Milton lawmaker told the Herald yesterday. "I don't know if there's any organized opposition to this interpretation that other states have followed, but I expect there will be once these entities are up and running. They'll have paid lobbyists and folks fighting and resisting the change." [continues 308 words]
State Sen. Brian Joyce wanted to take away senile grandma's driver's license. Now he wants to tax sick grandma's weed. I was with him on his driving bills - but not on taxing medical marijuana. We've heaped enough abuse already on grandmas who say medical marijuana relieves their pain. Between hysterical politicians and hysterical police (it was "Reefer Madness" at the Boston City Council pot dispensary debate), you'd think grandmas, or anyone seeking medical marijuana, were thugs, lepers, carriers of the plague. [continues 327 words]
There seems to be a lot of concern by lawmakers and drug abuse prevention groups, about the possible abuse of the painkiller Zohydro ("Advocates call for more restrictions on Zohydro," April 29). However, there does not seem to be the same concern for medical marijuana, which is already legal in our state. Both Zohydro and marijuana are extremely useful and advantageous when used appropriately. However, Zohydro is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, prescribed by a physician and stored at a pharmacy. In contrast, marijuana is not approved by the FDA and remains illegal under federal law. It will be grown in multiple facilities and distributed by multiple registered marijuana dispensaries throughout our state. I find it ironic that lawmakers and drug abuse prevention groups are so very concerned about the possible abuse of Zohydro but seemingly not of pot. - - Joanne Maguire, Burlington [end]
A federal judge yesterday ruled that two Bay State men - previously convicted of marijuana possession in other states - could not be denied the right to have guns in their homes for self-defense purposes based on their prior drug crimes. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Stearns ruled that Michael Wesson of Salisbury and Thomas Woods of Natick have a Second Amendment right to own firearms despite being convicted of possessing weed in the past. Sterns said the portion of the Massachusetts Gun Control Act that disqualifies gun applicants who had previously been convicted of possessing a controlled substance was unconstitutional, as applied to the two men. [continues 107 words]
Calling marijuana a "gateway drug" to other drug use is a discredited theory ("Let's weed out idea that pot is not harmful," March 13). Besides that, both alcohol and nicotine use are more likely to lead to drug dependence than cannabis, according to Scientific American. However, the U.S. prohibition on marijuana does cause those who want pot to seek out illegal drug dealers, which puts them into contact with people who often also sell hard drugs. Ending pot prohibition would stop that. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency classifies marijuana as a Schedule I "most dangerous" substance alongside heroin. Meanwhile methamphetamine and cocaine are only Schedule II substances, or less dangerous. How many Americans tried cannabis and realized it is not nearly as dangerous as claimed and believed other substances must not be either? Cannabis prohibitionists are, therefore, sending the wrong message to vulnerable citizens. - - Stan White, Dillon, Colo. [end]
Having lived for 10 years in Amsterdam, I can attest firsthand to the negatives surrounding an insidious drug subculture ("Let's weed out idea that pot is not harmful," March 11). Marijuana is not a terrible drug, but can serve as a gateway to much more deleterious substances. Boston's drug subculture got a boost from partial decriminalization of marijuana in 2008. Medical marijuana dispensaries may make things worse. They involve people like ex-U.S. Rep. William Delahunt who lack training in health care. Given the current provisions in the law, dispensaries essentially bypass physicians. Moreover, they greatly expand marijuana's uses to include diseases such as epilepsy and glaucoma, where the evidence on efficacy is thin. The drug's safety and efficacy need to be established by the Food and Drug Administration. - - Joshua P. Cohen, Boston The writer is a researcher at Tufts University Center for the Study of Drug Development. [end]
After considerable research as a kid, followed by years of sober reflection, I've concluded that it's not marijuana but sugar that is America's gateway drug ("Let's weed out idea that pot is not harmful," March 12). Adriana Cohen's column relies on ex-heroin addict and former NBA player Chris Herren's argument that most addicts use marijuana before heroin or other addictive drugs. But I can guarantee that 100 percent of Americans were sugarfed and sugar-dependent before they could even light a match. A Connecticut College study last year found Oreos to be just as addictive as cocaine. "Our research supports the theory that high-fat, high-sugar foods stimulate the brain in the same way that drugs do," said Joseph Schroeder, a psychology professor. Sugar contributes to a range of health problems. And certainly sugar started the ball rolling long before marijuana. - - Peter G. Whittemore, Cohasset [end]
Gov. Deval Patrick has now been presented with several options to correct the medical marijuana licensing process that his team has royally botched. Perhaps he'll find a few minutes to consider them as he wings his way to Mexico and Panama today on yet another international jaunt. Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez (D-Jamaica Plain), who chairs a legislative committee probing the licensing procedures, has recommended that the Department of Public Health expand the pool of applicants it is considering for licensure. DPH has given 20 applicants the provisional goahead (launching meaningful background investigations only after the fact - and after the Herald and others starting digging up dirt). Sanchez believes six others who had high scores but finished out of the running should get another shot. [continues 191 words]
Why are states around the country, including Massachusetts, legalizing marijuana when it's considered a gateway drug to harder drugs and even addiction? Is this really a good idea? Not to former heroin addict and NBA player Chris Herren. In an eye-opening interview on "Trending Now" yesterday, the founder of The Herren Project expressed his concerns about marijuana legalization. "I think it's a problem. I think our kids have enough out there to worry about, they don't need another drug so readily available to them." [continues 314 words]
