Pubdate: Mon, 03 May 2004
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2004 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: William Lown
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n632/a12.html?62419

STILL ILLEGAL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

To the Editor:

Although Eric Schlosser (Op-Ed, April 26) makes a valid point that medical 
marijuana should be made available to anyone with chronic pain, epilepsy 
and so on, his plea to decriminalize marijuana is dangerous and 
shortsighted. As Mr. Schlosser clearly states, "marijuana is a powerful, 
mind-altering drug."

This country presently has scores of individuals battling alcohol 
addiction, addiction to illegal drugs and addiction to legal, 
over-the-counter drugs. Making marijuana legal will send the signal to 
children that using this "mind-altering" drug is perfectly acceptable and 
will only add to our country's growing problem of drug dependency.

WILLIAM LOWN Bronxville, N.Y., April 26, 2004 
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