Pubdate: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2002 The Lethbridge Herald Contact: http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239 Author: Steve Cherry PUT SAFETY FIRST IF MARIJUANA IS DECRIMINALIZED Editor: I have nothing against pot smokers, just irresponsible pot smokers and substance abusers. Marijuana, according to all current scientific data is less physically addictive and harmful than tobacco and alcohol. But that doesn't mean it is perfectly safe. Some people can drive fairly safely while drunk; the same can be said for those who are high. Most people cannot, however, and even hardened alcoholics and chronic pot smokers, if they indulge too much, can be hazardous on the road. The side affects of marijuana smoking can include hunger, paranoia, giddiness, euphoria, tiredness, lowered attention span, loss of time perception and, in some rare individuals, mild perceptual hallucinations. Thousands of fatal and severe motor vehicle accidents a year are currently caused by alcohol and tiredness. I believe if marijuana becomes legalized or decriminalized, many more people will be doing it and more irresponsible overindulgers could be driving, knowing if caught, all they face is a fine. Instead of letting irresponsible people ruin what has the potential of doing some good for society and the sick, I have a proposal that could be more beneficial to all: Certain bars could carry marijuana for sale. This marijuana would be sold to the bars by the government and would be of a standard average potency. When people go to these bars, where it is perfectly legal, they must hand over their drivers' licences and only get it back three or four hours after last call or when escorted to a taxi by the bouncers. The only other places it should be legal are clinics where those who need it can have it administered in proper intervals by trained individuals and have a few of the same trained individuals daily go around town giving one day's worth of doses to homes of those in need. Steve Cherry Lethbridge - --- MAP posted-by: Alex