Pubdate: Fri, 07 Oct 2005
Source: Arizona Daily Wildcat (AZ Edu)
Copyright: 2005 Arizona Daily Wildcat
Contact:  http://wildcat.arizona.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/725
Author: Angel del Valle
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1583/a04.html
Related:  http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1571/a03.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

HARMFULNESS NOT THE REASON FOR ILLEGAL MARIJUANA

This is in response to Allison Villa, who claims that marijuana should be 
illegal because of its harmful effects to your health. Then could she 
explain to me why alcohol, which destroys your liver and brain cells and 
can eventually lead to blindness, is legal? Or why tobacco, which, whether 
it's chewed or smoked, causes mouth, throat and lung cancer, stains your 
teeth and fingers (and not to mention horrible breath) is still legal? Or 
why so many prescription drugs that include stomach pains, diarrhea, 
nosebleeds, headaches and sudden death (see Allegra) as their side effects 
are more than perfectly legal?

The government already allows millions of products harmful to one's health; 
one more wouldn't kill it (pun intended). It all comes down to the money 
the U.S. makes thanks to it being illegal. People can blame Latin American 
suppliers all they want, but someone is letting them across the border for 
a price.

Angel del Valle

religious studies sophomore
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D