Pubdate: Fri, 01 Apr 2005
Source: Kennebec Journal (ME)
Copyright: 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc
Contact:  http://www.centralmaine.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1405
Author: Stan White

STUDIES DISCREDIT 'GATEWAY DRUG' THEORY

If Lt. Carl Gottardi's opinion ("Reform group criticizes state's marijuana 
fight, Mar. 18) about whether to re-legalize cannabis (marijuana) depends 
on whether marijuana is a gateway to other stronger drugs such as crack 
cocaine and heroin, then it is time to change the laws. The gateway theory 
has been discredited by nearly every recent study. Re-legalizing and 
regulating cannabis separates it from sales that occur next to those hard 
drugs. Surely the sheriff's office has confiscated enough cannabis to see 
it is a plant, not a drug.

Stan White

Dillon, Colo.
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