Pubdate: Mon, 10 Feb 2014 Source: Concord Monitor (NH) Copyright: 2014 Kenny Coffin Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/WbpFSdHB Website: http://www.concordmonitor.com Author: Kenny Coffin POOR ARGUMENTS ON MARIJUANA Re "Group: Recreational pot a 'nightmare' " (Monitor Local & State section, Jan. 31): Patrick Kennedy is out of touch with reality. He said, "I'm against legalization because I don't want to see a for-profit industry whose only motive is to get more customers." Well, Mr. Kennedy, exactly what is the liquor industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the tobacco industry or any other industry in it for? To help people? Do you think the people of New Hampshire are that stupid? You quote a survey that only tells us what we already know. After all these years of a failed "war on drugs" and all of the lives lost and destroyed because of it, not to mention the billions of our tax dollars, teenagers are still smoking pot. You also mention "state-funded" treatment. Why don't you call it what it really is? Court-ordered. When people are faced with jail or rehab, what do you think they are going to choose? And to Chuck Rosa, I am very sorry for your loss. I do have a question for you though. Did your sons die from a cannabis overdose? And if it troubles you so much to think we'd compromise the well-being of our youth to make a few bucks, why don't you focus on the drugs that actually kill people, and the system that allows (and rewards) it? I am sick of the hypocrisy. Criminalize a plant that has never killed anybody, while at the same time tolerating the very things that kill our people. I'm not buying into the lies anymore. Do some research and find out what the cannabis plant really is before you demonize it. KENNY COFFIN Wilmot - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D