Pubdate: Tue, 15 Jun 2004
Source: Northwest Herald (IL)
Copyright: 2004 Northwest Herald Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.nwherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2762
Author: Bruce Mirken
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)

SCARE STORIES

To the Editor:

Your story, "Marijuana more addictive than many believe" (June 9, Northwest 
Herald), failed to give readers the full picture.

In particular, it failed to note scientific doubts about the Journal of the 
American Medical Association article purporting to show an increase in 
marijuana abuse or dependence caused by increased "potency."

The article notes that people can be classified as "abusers" if they 
experience "legal problems related to marijuana use." FBI arrest data shows 
that during the period of the study, marijuana arrests skyrocketed from 
fewer than 300,000 in 1991 to well more than 700,000 in 2001.

The increase in "abuse" simply may be the result of shifting 
law-enforcement priorities.

The article also may have left readers believing that it is simply my 
opinion that marijuana is less addictive than other, legal drugs.

In a study commissioned by the White House, the Institute of Medicine of 
the National Acad-emy of Sciences reported that alcohol users are 60 
percent more likely to become dependent on their drug of choice than 
marijuana users. The institute stated that "few marijuana users become 
dependent ... and marijuana dependence appears to be less severe than 
dependence on other drugs."

All drugs, including marijuana, can be abused, but exaggerated scare 
stories help no one.

Bruce Mirken

Director of communications, Marijuana Policy Project San Francisco
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth