Pubdate: Tue, 27 Apr 2010
Source: Record, The (Stockton, CA)
Copyright: 2010 The Record
Contact: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=A_OPINION05
Website: http://www.recordnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/428
Author: Terry Spears

IN A DAZE OVER POT LEGALIZATION

According to someone's poll, the majority of  Californians favor 
recreational use of marijuana.

The United States is the only country in the world that  requires the 
maker of an otherwise legal product not to  advertise its product. No 
Winston Cup racing in the  USA! Furthermore, cigarette manufacturers 
are forced by  the government to spend money to discourage the 
purchase of their product. The government prohibits  smoking in bars, 
public buildings, parks and the like.

Yet, even with this hard line on cigarette smoking, we  approved the 
smoking of marijuana, an addictive drug,  for "medical reasons."

We treat marijuana as some magical drug and as though  there were no 
other drugs already on the market to  treat the users' ailments. We 
don't require medical  marijuana to be purchased through a pharmacist 
but  allow some hole-in-the wall shop that gets it from 
some  backyard producer to sell it.

Now we are going to vote on and possibly approve the  recreational 
use of marijuana smoking so our  politicians can tax its use.

Our society is so befuddled and confused in its  thinking.

Cigarette smoking and marijuana smoking are bad for us.  To legalize 
marijuana for recreational use will simply  create a whole new set of 
problems for our society.

Terry Spears

Stockton
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