Pubdate: Mon, 10 Feb 2003
Source: GW Hatchet (DC Edu)
Copyright: 2003 The GW Hatchet
Contact:  http://www.gwhatchet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/757
Author: Liz Roth

WEED NOT THE PROBLEM

Alex Kingsbury's op-ed on Thursday ("Fear and Smoking in America," p. 4) 
about the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy ads that show 
the "extreme dangers" of smoking marijuana. Adding to this sentiment, this 
week the so-called "Guru of Ganja" Ed Rosenthal was found guilty and will 
be sentenced for up to 83 years for cultivating marijuana. All of this 
simply adds to my frustration with the country's obsession with a low-key 
drug, while there are so many other drugs that pose a more serious threat 
to humans.

Just as Kingsbury said, I cannot think of the last time I read about rape, 
violence, or an accidental pregnancy that resulted from marijuana use. 
While it is entirely true that marijuana is an illegal drug that does 
affect the brain, the WHONDCP is overlooking a type of drug abuse that has 
a larger effect on the teenage population - alcohol.

According to a study published by CBS News, 17,448 people were killed in 
2001 due to alcohol-related car accidents. That is 41 percent of the total 
motor vehicle accidents that occurred nationwide. Additionally, about 
20,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes that do not involve 
motor vehicles.

A large portion of that group is related to teenage binge drinking. 
Thurston Hall alone had more than 10 hospitalizations due to alcohol 
poisoning in the fall semester. There were no hospitalizations due to 
smoking too much marijuana.

It angers me to see so much money wasted on anti-marijuana ads when it 
should be spent on educating people about the dangers of driving drunk.

- -Liz Roth freshman
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom