Pubdate: Sun, 31 May 2015
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)
Copyright: 2015 PG Publishing Co., Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/pm4R4dI4
Website: http://www.post-gazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/341
Author: Joseph Farkas

WHETHER POT IS DANGEROUS IS NOT THE POINT

Grace M. McGorrian's May 24 Forum article "A Tale of Two Reefers" was 
well-intentioned but missed the point. A recent Gallup poll found 
that a slim majority of Americans supports marijuana legalization.

With regard to any policy changes we as a society are considering, 
the question before us is not whether abuse of marijuana is bad, but 
whether the current approach of criminalizing marijuana use is desirable.

Abusing anything is generally undesirable, unless it's the Pens 
abusing the Flyers.

Is marijuana dangerous? Maybe, but it doesn't matter. Driving to work 
is the most dangerous thing any of us do, but no one is moving to 
criminalize that. We have laws against speeding and driving while 
intoxicated as well as ample construction zones to make sure we get 
nowhere in under an hour. In addition alcohol is legal and can kill 
you with a single bottle.

Finally, what aspect of marijuana is the most dangerous - its use or 
the policies concerning its sale and use? While marijuana itself has 
never been known to be an official cause of death in any human ever, 
the policies regarding marijuana can be quite deadly.

Just ask Andrew Sadek's parents. Mr. Sadek was a 20year-old college 
student in North Dakota until he was caught selling around $80 in 
marijuana. Under threat of felony charges he became a police 
informant until his body was found in the Red River with a bullet in 
his head. How's that for danger?

JOSEPH FARKAS

Moon
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom