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 - --- MAP posted-by: Beth