Pubdate: Tue, 17 Jan 2012
Source: Lincoln Journal Star (NE)
Copyright: 2012 Lincoln Journal Star
Contact:  http://www.journalstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/561
Author: Wesley Halvorsen
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n033/a06.html

MARIJUANA NOT LIKE OTHER DRUGS

Anne Greff's letter ("No to legalization," Jan. 12) would have been 
more convincing if her letter dealt with marijuana. Instead, she 
talked about "other drugs" and opium; she did not discuss marijuana, 
and that is what Proposition 19 is concerned with.

The letter spoke about "some countries that have legalized drugs" and 
brought up China and opium. The Chinese were quite literally forced 
to buy and use opium produced by British mercantilists, who had heavy 
investments in opium. The Chinese did not want opium. Nor does 
Proposition 19 have anything to do with opium; it deals with 
marijuana for industrial and recreational purposes.

If you want to look at a society that has legalized marijuana, take a 
look at one of the happiest, most productive, most intelligent and 
healthiest people in the world - the Dutch.

Marijuana is not as addictive as caffeine, studies have not been able 
to show occasional (or regular) use of grass negatively affects 
health, and marijuana is not meth, cocaine, heroin, opium, alcohol, 
nicotine, or any other drug -- it is marijuana.

Wesley Halvorsen, Syracuse
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