Pubdate: Sun, 24 Jul 2011
Source: Sun, The (Yuma, AZ)
Copyright: 2011 The Sun
Contact: http://www.yumasun.com/sections/opinion/submit-letters/
Website: http://www.yumasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1258
Author: William Hadley

PROTECTIONS ARE NEEDED AGAINST MARIJUANA USERS

Voter approved laws legalizing drugs rely on emotion rather than 
sound logic or reasoning.

Those advocating the legal use of marijuana in Arizona ignored the 
factual reality of the potential safety hazards to co-workers or 
drivers on the highway. Instead of including reasonable enforcement 
restrictions on when and where individuals would be allowed to 
supposedly utilize the medical benefits of the drug, it is left up to 
the individual.

The legalization of marijuana in California has now exposed the 
inherent danger to the general public by those I would call potheads. 
The California officials have recorded a significant increase in 
traffic accidents and deaths since its legalization. There have been 
over 1,000 vehicular deaths annually due to drivers being high on 
marijuana use. Of course the media tend to ignore this fact because 
they actively supported passage of bills legalizing the drug in their 
present form.

Maybe we should revise our state law on marijuana use to address the 
increased threat before allowing it to be implemented. We need to 
revise our law to include a severe penalty for driving under 
influence of marijuana such as when charged with a DUI. This would 
only be fair for those drivers who do not use marijuana.

I wonder what safety hazards are present in the workplace by 
employees high on marijuana. Hopefully this will be documented over time.

William Hadley

Yuma
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom