Pubdate: Sun, 08 May 2005
Source: High Point Enterprise (NC)
Copyright: 2005 High Point Enterprise
Contact:  http://www.hpe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/576
Author: Kirk Muse
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

CLOSE THE GATEWAY TO MORE HARMFUL DRUGS

Kudos to letter writer Robert Sharpe for his outstanding letter: "Close 
'gateway' to hard drugs by legalizing marijuana" (5-04-05).

I'd like to add that because marijuana is illegal, it is sold by criminals 
who often sell other drugs and offer free samples of the other drugs to 
their marijuana customers. Thus the gateway effect.

If we end the criminalization of marijuana, we will close the gateway to 
hard drugs.

When I was a user of marijuana, I was only interested in marijuana and no 
other illegal drugs. (Like most marijuana users). However, I was often 
offered free samples of other, much more dangerous drugs, by my marijuana 
suppliers.

Fortunately, I turned down all offers of free samples of other drugs. 
Unfortunately, many others do not. Thus, the gateway effect.

KIRK MUSE

Mesa, Ariz. 
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman