Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jul 2007
Source: Lac du Bonnet Leader (CN MB)
Copyright: 2007 Lac du Bonnet Leader
Contact: http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=211&x=contact
Website: http://www.lacdubonnetleader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2956
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n856/a03.html
Author: Kirk Muse

MARIJUANA 'LESS HARMFUL'

I'm writing about Marc Zienkiewicz's thoughtful column "War on drugs 
going to pot" (July 13). Most drug war cheerleaders proclaim that if 
marijuana were re-legalized, pot use would skyrocket. I believe that 
the Netherlands example shows that this probably would not happen. 
But suppose that pot use did increase. Suppose pot use by adults 
doubled. Would this necessarily be bad? I submit that it would not.

As pot use increases, alcohol use decreases. Most marijuana users 
don't drink alcohol, but those who do drink alcohol, drink 
substantially less than non-marijuana users. I believe that most 
doctors would agree that heavy marijuana use is a lot less harmful 
than heavy alcohol use. Heavy alcohol use can and does kill. No 
amount of marijuana use has ever killed anyone.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, AZ
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