In response to Larry James pro-marijuana legalization letter, "Legalize marijuana" (Forum, Oct. 31): Medical marijuana and general legalization are complicated measures that cannot be implemented lightly. As a business owner of drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in Utah and Arizona, I am relieved that the medical marijuana and several legalization propositions in Western states in the recent midterm elections did not pass: Oregon, New Mexico, South Dakota, Arizona ('no's ahead in recount) and California.

While Journey Healing Centers has always supported giving marijuana to critically ill patients, these propositions were about deceptions to legalize an addictive drug for profit. After watching too many people and families suffer from drug abuse, we could not support laws that made it way too easy to get marijuana for almost any pain. The definition for qualifying illnesses, health risks and messages to kids need more careful review first.

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