Pubdate: Wed, 19 Jul 2006
Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Copyright: 2006 Mountain Xpress
Contact:  http://www.mountainx.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/941
Author: James P. Anderson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

GONE TO POT

[Editor's note: This is in reaction to the letter entitled, "Respect 
deserved by all," in the July 5 Xpress.]

No offense, sir, but while I respect what you're doing, most folks, 
Christian or otherwise, would view a stoner preaching the gospel as a 
contradiction in terms, and simply label you as hypocritical. I 
personally claim no affiliation with any particular denomination or 
sect, but am simply seeking to state my honest opinion(s). Would 
Jesus himself condone people frying their brains on weed, or any 
other drugs, for that matter? I mean seriously ...

The fact is, marijuana kills brain cells and often short-circuits 
motivation. Condoning illicit drug use, I feel, is anything but 
beneficial to those who find themselves in oppressive circumstances, 
such as the homeless. I once knew a guy who lost everything he had 
and went to stay with a friend of mine. Instead of trying to better 
himself, he would continuously "borrow" money from people he knew in 
order to buy weed, sometimes walking over 10 miles to make the 
illegal purchases. Said individual was hardly helping himself, and if 
what he was doing doesn't count as addictive and destructive, I don't 
know what does. Like I said, I respect your efforts to elevate your 
fellow man, but wouldn't it be far better if drugs did not play a part in them.

- - James P. Anderson

Simpsonville, S.C.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman