Pubdate: Thu, 24 Apr 2008
Source: Flor-Ala, The (AL Edu)
Copyright: 2008, University of North Alabama
Contact: http://www.florala.net/main.cfm?include=submit
Website: http://www.florala.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2820
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n402/a03.html
Author:  Ralph Givens

READER RESPONSES TO LAST WEEK'S 'WEED AND GREED' ARTICLE

The problem with marijuana prohibition is that it is based on known 
lies. Drug Task Force officer Chuck Hearn's claim that "Marijuana is 
kind of a gateway drug" is an example.

The 1997 U.S. government sponsored Institute of Medicine (IOM) study 
on Medical Marijuana debunked the notion that marijuana use leads to 
heroin addiction with this pointed conclusion- "Whereas the stepping 
stone hypothesis presumes a predominantly physiological component to 
drug progression, the gateway theory is a social theory."

The latter does not suggest that the pharmacological qualities of 
marijuana make it a risk factor for progression to other drug use. 
Instead it is the legal status of marijuana that makes it a gateway 
drug." (The IOM report is online at: http://www.drugsense.org/iom_report/ )

In other words, any gateway phenomena is caused by the drug laws that 
officer Chuck Hearn promotes and enforces. Legalizing and regulating 
marijuana for adult use will close the gateway.

Ralph Givens
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake