Pubdate: Thu, 05 Mar 2009
Source: Dalhousie Gazette, The (CN NS Edu)
Copyright: 2009 The Dalhousie Gazette
Contact:  http://www.dalgazette.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2866
Author: Stan White
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n201/a06.html

CANNABIS IS SAFE

Re: "Cutting down on the green" (Feb. 19)

Writer Rachel Sunter tried to be objective about cannabis, but ended 
up resorting to discredited prohibitionist claims to support the con side.

One reason to legalize the relatively safe, socially acceptable plant 
that Sunter didn't mention is that it will lower hard drug addiction 
rates. How many citizens try cannabis and realize it's not nearly as 
harmful as taught in government education programs? Then, people 
think other substances must not be so bad either, only to become 
addicted to deadly drugs.

The old lessons make cannabis out to be among the worst substances in 
the world, even though it's never killed a single person. The U.S. 
government even classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance along 
with heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are only Schedule II 
substances. That message must change.

Regulated cannabis sales could prevent citizens who purchase cannabis 
from coming into contact with people who often also sell hard drugs, 
which would lower hard drug addiction rates, too.

Stan White
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