Pubdate: Thu, 27 Jan 2000
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2000, The Tribune Co.
Contact:  http://www.tampatrib.com/
Forum: http://tampabayonline.net/interact/welcome.htm
Author: John W. Russell, Apollo Beach

MARIJUANA AND OTHER DRUGS

In his desire to promote the legalization of marijuana, John Chase 
(Letters, Jan. 21) spins truth into a crash and burn for our kids. His 
absurd claim is that marijuana use should be promoted through legalizing 
the drug with the result that use of cocaine and other more deadly drugs 
would thus be prevented.

Coincidentally, I read this propaganda just hours after one more regular 
visit to an area detention center to reveal to incarcerated boys a better 
way of life.

On this occasion, I was once again warned of the insidious deadly trap that 
is marijuana. A boy, at 16, lost control of his life when, six months ago, 
his marijuana habit no longer satisfied. Since moving through the gateway 
to crack cocaine, he has had four arrests. He has no confidence of ever 
controlling his addiction. It is an old, old story.

The promotion of marijuana as a drug of intellectual culture is a deadly 
spin of the truth that begins the life-consuming entry into deadly drugs.

The motivation for legalizing marijuana is not availability, but 
acceptability. In attaining this social status for marijuana users, our 
kids are being trashed.
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