Pubdate: Wed, 11 Sep 2002
Source: Guelph Mercury (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 Guelph Mercury Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guelphmercury.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1418
Author: Jan Brown

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA OPENS PANDORA'S BOX

Dear Editor - I wanted to respond to the marijuana issue with some questions.

Why? Why, when we are having such a difficult time keeping up with drinking 
and driving, do we want to complicate things by having people drive stoned?

Why 16? Why are we putting that kind of responsibility on our teenagers 
when we as adults cannot handle the consequences of getting behind the 
wheel of a car when we are drunk? How are our police going to keep up with 
these consequences?

If, as has been stated, marijuana does help people handle pain a little 
better, then why can't it be marketed just like any other prescription drug?

You would get a prescription from your doctor, and then go to the drug 
store and get it. Morphine is a drug that helps cancer patients with their 
pain, but it is not legally for sale on the streets.

I believe that legalizing marijuana will open up a Pandora's box that 
should not be opened, for obvious reasons.

Where is our sense of ethics to even think about doing such a thing?

Jan Brown

Guelph
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