Pubdate: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 Source: Middletown Press, The (CT) Copyright: 2016 The Middletown Press Contact: http://www.middletownpress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/586 Author: Stan White Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n125/a01.html LEGALIZING POT WOULD REDUCE DRUG ADDICTION RATES I'm sure the Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals means well ("Marijuana Bill Draws Criticism, March 3"), however opposing cannabis (marijuana) legalization increases hard drug addiction rates, which is what Connecticut is experiencing. Selling cannabis in a regulated market removes sales from people who may also sell hard drugs. Some citizens who legitimately use opioids for medical conditions may choose cannabis if it is available over the counter like in Colorado. That could lower hard drug addiction rates. The plant hasn't killed anyone in over 5,000 years of documented use; that's safety on a Biblical scale. Relegalizing the relatively safe, extremely popular Godgiven plant will eventually require the federal government to change its classification from a Schedule I substance alongside heroin, while meth and cocaine are only Schedule II substances. The government's message to Americans that cannabis is no worse than heroin and worse than meth and cocaine has been a dangerous and irresponsible policy costing the country in countless ways. How many people that tried cannabis and found it less dangerous than claimed and believe other substances must not be so dangerous either caused them to be addicted to hard drugs? A sane or moral argument to continue caging responsible adults who use cannabis doesn't exist. - - Stan White, Dillon, Colorado - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom