Pubdate: Fri, 28 Oct 2005
Source: Chimes (MI Edu)
Copyright: 2005 Calvin College Chimes
Contact: http://clubs.calvin.edu/chimes/mailchimes.php
Website: http://clubs.calvin.edu/chimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3983
Author: David Watson
Note:  If you do not have a Calvin account, please include your name and 
your telephone number so that we can verify your identity.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MARIJUANA ARTICLE HAS FACTUAL ERRORS

Dear Editor,

I just thought I would inform you that several statements by the writer of 
"Point Counterpoint: Marijuana Has Medical Benefits" were in error.

 From last week's article:

"According to medical research, smoking marijuana produces more problems 
than cigarette smoking; four times as much tar is deposited on the lungs 
and marijuana cigarettes contain the majority of harmful chemicals found in 
cigarettes."

This is false; see Robert Melamede's new study at 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n1639.a04.html

 From last week's article:

"Yet what people do not realize is that people under the age of 21 are the 
most common users of marijuana. Since decriminalization will not legalize 
marijuana for the most common users the black market will still exist."

See http://norml.org/images/state_arrests_2004/AR_Page_37.gif.

People under 21 are not the most common users of marijuana; this is just 
another lie to scare the voters.

 From last week's article:

"Therefore, because marijuana is not useful as a medicine but is, in fact, 
harmful, because it can damage developing brains and because the loss of 
motor control and spatial perception can be dangerous, marijuana should not 
be decriminalized but rather remain an illegal substance."

This ignores the fact that most medical users are not adolescents; what 
about the older patients? It also ignores that morphine and cocaine are 
legal for medical patients in need, as are alcohol and tobacco; maybe we 
should prohibit alcohol to protect the kids? We tried this before and 
Prohibition caused more problems than the alcohol did. Sound familiar? 
Cannabis prohibition does exactly the same thing.

David Watson

Amsterdam
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D