Pubdate: Sun, 25 Jul 2010
Source: Times-Herald, The (Vallejo, CA)
Copyright: 2010 The Times-Herald
Contact:  http://www.timesheraldonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/993
Source: Times-Herald, The (Vallejo, CA)
Author: Lyndon E. Lafferty, Vallejo
Referenced: Pot vs. Alcohol: What the Experts Say 
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n493/a07.htm
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)

DON'T LET THE MARIJUANA MYTH LIVE ON

Letter writer Paul Armentano ("Pot vs. alcohol: What the experts 
say," June 26) is still spreading his misguided and dangerous myth 
that marijuana is a safe drug, and he cites two stand-up comedians to 
prove his point, both experts: President Nixon and Art Linkletter.

Sir, when I challenged you in person, about one year ago during your 
presentation in the coffee shop at the ferry building, you either 
would not or could not answer one simple question. I asked you if it 
was not true that research studies had confirmed that marijuana was a 
"gateway" drug, which in most cases resulted in the use of more toxic 
drugs, often in combination. You replied by saying something to the 
effect that marijuana was so easy to get, you could go outside and 
buy some in 15 minutes. True, I am not an expert, but your reply was 
too innocuous, way over my head. You then called on another guest, 
and I walked out.

What is so dangerous about your rhetoric is that many young people 
might actually believe you, and this would be tragic. Your expertise 
on this matter is skewed beyond belief. Are you aware of the 
methodology used in the testing procedures of the Australian study in 
2007? Do you know whether or not the tests were concluded based on 
the primary drug involved, or were they thorough in trace toxins as 
well? And, when you cite research studies that are 21 years obsolete 
in one case and 12 years obsolete in another, you have impeached your 
own credibility. Also, did the French study fail to mention the 
second of three "distinct categories," or did you selectively choose 
not to use it?

But the most egregious of those studies you cited is the World Health 
Organization. These are the very same people who have been 
recommending we eradicate, exterminate, 25 percent of our current 
world population to prevent a world hunger disaster in the not too 
distant future. And they are still trying to find a way to do it. 
Even this analysis was 15 years obsolete.

In your rationale, you are saying that in the matter of "Russian 
roulette," one bullet in the cylinder is marijuana and two is 
alcohol. In reality, for many reasons I have no space to enumerate, 
the facts of all current research prove beyond any doubt that 
marijuana is the most pervasive and most dangerous drug in the world 
today, that it is positively the gateway drug leading to severe 
alcoholism and other drugs.

A recent American Medical Association report states that there are 
more teens in treatment each year for marijuana dependence than for 
alcohol and all other illegal drugs combined, and the trend is 
increasing. Adolescent treatment admissions were 23 percent in 1992 
and 64 percent in 2002. In 2002, a study showed t hat 55 percent of 
all motorists stopped for reckless driving were under the influence 
of alcohol and 45 percent of the 55 percent tested positive for marijuana.

Surely there is no pride in our young students smoking pot in the 
locker rooms and bath rooms in our schools, walking down the railroad 
tracks to their death in a state of lethargic stupefaction. It is 
happening all too often.

Remember the Titanic? It was designed and built by hundreds of 
"experts" -- and it sank with perfection.

With your expert status and credentials, you know better than most 
that if marijuana were decriminalized, thousands more would get 
wasted, more people would become dependent on alcohol, cocaine and 
heroin, and crime would increase due to the more illicit drugs. And 
this is exactly what the major drug cartels are hoping for, and pot 
growers fear. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake