Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jun 2003
Source: Summit Daily News (CO)
Copyright: 2003 Summit Daily News
Contact:  http://www.summitdaily.com/home.php
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/587
Author:  Kirk Muse
Note: The ten other letters so far in this June series may be seen at 
http://www.mapinc.org/source/Summit+Daily+News

ANTI-MARIJUANA LETTERS CONTINUES TO FIRE UP REPLIES

I'm writing about letter-writer Robert Cooper's not-so-thoughtful
letter of June 17, "More pot shots about marijuana."

Actually, 100 percent of heroin users started out with mother's milk
or baby formula. But that is not the cause of heroin abuse any more
than marijuana is.

The so-called "gateway effect" is created by our government policy of
marijuana criminalization - not the marijuana itself.

I personally have never seen heroin, cocaine or methamphetamine.

But I was offered unsolicited, free samples of all these potentially
dangerous and addictive drug by my past suppliers of marijuana.

Also, I have not used marijuana or eaten pork rinds for at least a
dozen years. But I don't believe I or anybody else should be punished
by our government if we should choose to do so again.

A free country should be - a free country.

Kirk Muse, Mesa, Ariz.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake