Pubdate: Fri, 18 Aug 2006 Source: Nelson Daily News (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Nelson Daily News Contact: http://www.mapinc.org/media/288 Note: The newspaper does not have an active website. Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1077/a10.html Author: Jose Melendez Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) DON'T IGNORE FACTS To the Editor: With respect to the emotional letter from the teacher in Nelson, "Drug Crusaders Listen Up," what dignity results from closing one's eyes and ears to the facts about marijuana? Certainly cannabinoids have indisputable anticarcinogenic, neuroprotective and pain-relieving effects. Furthermore, since anandamide is a naturally occurring substance in all human brains that is very similar to marijuana's active ingredient THC, most people get high every day, whether they admit it or not. In fact, none of the anecdotal examples listed in the letter approach the harm associated with deadly alcohol, tobacco or pharmaceutical poisons that are legally peddled, taxed and consumed without risk of incarceration absent some other crime. Alcohol prohibition resulted in (an) drunk school children and pot prohibition has similarly proven to increase youthful experimentation. So why should responsible cannabis consumers be deprived access by those who so carefully ignore such self evident truths? Crusaders, indeed. Jose Melendez Communications Director Concerned Citizens Coalition to Criminalize Prohibition DeLand, FL - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman