Pubdate: Thu, 08 Aug 2002
Source: Deseret News (UT)
Copyright: 2002 Deseret News Publishing Corp.
Contact:  http://www.desnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/124

LEGALIZE MARIJUANA? NO WAY!

The cloak is quickly falling from the supporters of medical marijuana who 
have succeeded in passing referenda in several states. What many of these 
supporters really want is to legalize the drug for everyone, which is the 
weighty subject Nevada voters will tackle in November.

Utahns, for obvious demographic reasons, can be expected to stay away from 
this craze, if it indeed becomes one. But if this state again finds itself 
an island of sanity, as it is now when it comes to legalized gambling, we 
think people here should remind themselves of a few facts.

Marijuana is a drug that at best causes short-term memory loss and inhibits 
the ability to learn. As web sites such as theantidrug.com outline, it 
interferes with the user's ability to think clearly, as well as with his or 
her physical coordination and perception of the world. Its main ingredient 
is commonly known by the acronym THC. This chemical changes the way the 
brain's learning and memory systems process sensory information, and it 
prevents the brain's normal integration of this information with emotions 
and motivations.

Research has shown that regular marijuana smokers suffer these effects long 
after they discontinue use of the drug. These people have performed 
noticeably poorer than their counterparts in tests as part of controlled 
experiments. They also tend to be more accepting of anti-social behavior 
and more aggressive and rebellious than non-users.

In addition to all this, experts believe regular marijuana users may suffer 
similar respiratory problems as cigarette smokers, with frequent coughing 
and symptoms similar to bronchitis.

Not everyone who smokes marijuana will graduate to bigger and harder drugs, 
but many experts say virtually all people who use hard drugs began with 
marijuana. And, by the way, the latest trend among drug users is to dig the 
tobacco out of a cigar and fill the space with marijuana mixed with crack 
cocaine, or some other powerful drug. The line between weed and other drugs 
has always been blurry, at best.

Nevada's referendum would legalize possession of up to 3 ounces of 
marijuana, and it would set up a bureaucracy to oversee how it is grown, 
distributed and sold. All legal sales would be taxed.

Through laws, governments send a powerful message about what is acceptable 
behavior in a civilized society. Perhaps, as many have said, the penalties 
for simple marijuana possession have been too stiff through the years. But 
we can't imagine one good reason why anyone would now want to turn the 
smoking of marijuana into a sanctioned, acceptable activity.
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