Pubdate: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 Source: Abbotsford Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 The Abbotsford Times Contact: http://www.abbotsfordtimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1009 Author: Eric Myrholm I'D RATHER LISTEN TO RESEARCHERS ABOUT THE DANGER OF DRUGS THE EDITOR: At the Nov. 14 LEAP session, mention was made about the "wasted dollars in anti-drug efforts." But for those kids saved from drug addiction, this is hardly wasted dollars. Our fight against drug abuse and addiction is a struggle that should be treated like any other social problem. Would we give up on education or poverty simply because we haven't eliminated all problems? Compared to the social costs of drug abuse and addiction - whether in taxpayer dollars or in pain and suffering - government, spending on drug control is minimal. The legalization lobby claims drugs are no more dangerous than alcohol. But drunk driving is one of the primary killers in North America. Do we want our bus drivers, nurses and airline pilots to be able to take drugs one evening and operate freely at work the next day? Do we want to make drugged driving another primary killer? I was contacted by a pro-marijuana person who compared my stand that "marijuana is a dangerous drug" to him telling me "that the earth is flat." There is proof that the earth is round, there is also proof that marijuana is a dangerous drug. Who should we believe about the danger of drugs? Researchers who are concerned about the health of a nation? Or users who feel that they have something to gain by the legalization of drugs? I would side with the researchers who are looking after our health. If it is felt that marijuana must be used for medical reasons, there is a safe version of medical marijuana which isolates the active ingredient of THC. This has been studied and approved by the FDA in the U.S. as a safe medicine. The difference is that you have to get a prescription from a licensed physician. You can't buy it on a street corner and you don't smoke it. Eric Myrholm Abbotsford - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake