Pubdate: Thu, 03 May 2007
Source: Chronicle, The (West Lorne, CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 The Chronicle
Contact: http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=241&x=contact
Website: http://www.thechronicle-online.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4478
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n536/a04.html
Author: Stan White Dillon

PERSECUTION OF CANNABIS IS THE GATEWAY TO DRUG ABUSE

Dear Editor,

Robert Merkin (Letter: Students Keep Using Drugs, April 26, 2007) hit 
the bull's eye but there's more.

After all government says about cannabis (marijuana / the devil 
weed), how do citizens and especially youth know government is 
telling the truth about heroin and meth?

Government's reefer madness, cannabis prohibition has had the 
ill-effect of creating contempt for any and all drug news from government.

It is the persistent persecution and prohibition of cannabis that has 
created a gateway to drug abuse, making government directly 
responsible for increasing hard drug addictions continuing to grow in 
North America, with younger children being victims.

According to government, cannabis is the biggest problem in North 
America, just ask the U.S. Drug Czar. Today's pot is more like 
cocaine, causing cancer and all. Asserting that cannabis has no 
medical value, while thousands of years proves otherwise, creates 
contempt. Labeling cannabis as Schedule I with deadly heroin and 
placing meth only as a Schedule II substance creates contempt. 
Cigarettes which kill over 1,000 North Americans daily is legal, yet 
cannabis which has never killed one person in over 5,000 years of 
documented use is illegal. It's no wonder youth don't listen to government.

Since government isn't, perhaps it's time for media, including the 
Chronicle to tell the truth. Does lying to youth about cannabis 
compromise hard drug messages? Has North America made a mistake by 
not being truthful with Youth? What's the truth?

Truthfully,

Stan White Dillon, Colorado

(online reader)
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