Pubdate: Wed, 02 Dec 2009
Source: Press-Enterprise (Riverside, CA)
Copyright: 2009 The Press-Enterprise Company
Contact: http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/letters_form.html
Website: http://www.pe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/830
Author: Paul Heard

DON'T SLAM MARIJUANA

In the letter "Pot destroys lives" (Your Views, Nov. 27), Betty Hemm
states, "I have a relative whose life has been ruined with drugs and
it started with pot. So many of his friends are now dead from drugs."
While I sympathize with her, this is an example of marijuana being
demonized due to false reasons.

Marijuana is a gateway drug because it's illegal. Aside from medical
venues, people don't have a legal avenue to obtain it so they go to
the black market. Some dealers also offer more dangerous drugs.

When people can get it legally, they won't be exposed to other
dangerous drugs along with the sleazy tactics used to pressure people
into buying them.

There was also a statement in the letter about pot being poison. If
this were true, do you really think that qualified licensed medical
doctors would recommend it?

Paul Heard

Moreno Valley
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr