Pubdate: Sat, 08 Aug 2015
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Hearst Communications Inc.
Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1
Website: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/388
Author: Michael Haworth

POT RESEARCH

Last week, new Drug Enforcement Agency chief Chuck Rosenberg was 
asked about marijuana versus heroin. His reply: "Do I think it 
(marijuana) is as dangerous as heroin? Probably not. I'm not an 
expert." This week, apparently after some research, he admitted: 
"Heroin is clearly more dangerous than marijuana."

Two points. One, shouldn't the DEA chief be an "expert?" And two, 
does he not have access to the National Institute of Drug Abuse 
website? The necessary information is there. In 2013, in the United 
States, there were more than 8,000 heroin overdose deaths, and zero 
marijuana overdose deaths.

Isn't it time to remove marijuana from the Schedule 1 list of drugs 
that includes heroin and LSD? Schedule 1 drugs are viewed as having 
no medical value. Schedule 2 through 5 drugs do. The higher the 
number, the more medical value. I'm certain marijuana's a Schedule 5 
. but I'd settle for a Schedule 2.

Michael Haworth, Vallejo
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