Pubdate: Sat, 23 Dec 2017 Source: Beacon Herald, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2017 Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/letters Website: http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1459 Author: J.D. Hawkins Page: A5 PLUSES TO POT With the plague of opiate overdoses, some doctors are prescribing pot to get people off opioids. There are many positive medical applications which help many people with everything from mental illness, terminal conditions, to severe physical disabilities. Fact is we have never had legal recreational pot, so how can you say it's going to destroy communities? I would like to point out how legalizing it has worked for Colorado and I think the red light district in Amsterdam would also beg to differ. These places have seen growth in economy, tourism, a monumental reduction in crime, and none of the backlash that a recent letter writer claims. One can't use outdated unreliable studies or personal beliefs as factual statements. Lastly it all depends on the user but just as I can't state that alcohol destroys everyone that uses it, one cannot generalize about people who use pot. J.D. Hawkins Brockville - --- MAP posted-by: Matt