Pubdate: Thu, 04 Jun 2009
Source: Community Press, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2009 Osprey Media
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/AaEnOqOj
Website: http://www.communitypress.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1717
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n563/a05.html
Author: Stan White

THE CANNABIS DEBATE...

The cannabis debate... One beneficial component of legalizing 
cannabis (marijuana) that doesn't get mentioned online (Marijuana - 
Time To Make It Legal? Panel Says Yes, May 25, 2009) is that it will 
lower hard drug addiction rates. DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance 
Education) will have to stop brainwashing youth into believing lies, 
half-truths and propaganda concerning cannabis, which create grave 
problems in the future.

How many citizens try cannabis and realize it's not nearly as harmful 
as taught in DARE-type government environments? Then they think other 
substances must not be so bad either, only to become addicted to 
deadly drugs. The old out-dated lessons make cannabis out to be among 
the worst substances in the world, even though it's less addictive 
than coffee and has never killed a single person.

The federal government even classifies cannabis as a Schedule I 
substance along with heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are 
only Schedule II substances. For the health and welfare of America's 
children and adults, that dangerous and irresponsible message 
absolutely must change.

Further, regulated cannabis sales would make it so that citizens who 
purchase cannabis would not come into contact with people who often 
also sell hard drugs, which would lower hard drug addiction rates.

Stan White

Dillon, Colo.
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