Pubdate: Wed, 17 Aug 2011
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Copyright: 2011 Chico Enterprise-Record
Contact:  http://www.chicoer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861
Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority
Author: Donald M. Polzin
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n522/a01.html

POT JUST TEMPORARILY MASKS THE PROBLEM

Robert Galia (letters, Friday) states he feels it is his civic 
responsibility to continue to characterize marijuana as a "health 
enhancer." He has done that numerous times before without offering a 
scintilla of scientific proof. When he has obtained written 
endorsements from at least half of the physicians at the Mayo Clinic, 
Cedars-Sinai, Johns Hopkins and/or the Stanford Medical Center, I 
might begin to believe him. Until then, I feel compelled to make one 
final definitive statement in opposition, as supported by the following.

I recall an old 1933-54 fictional radio drama called "The Shadow." 
Main character Lamont Cranston, a prominent businessman, decided to 
fight crime because he had the advantage of being able "to cloud 
men's minds." He wasn't exactly invisible, but when they heard his 
ominous voice, criminals trembled in fear and obeyed the someone who 
didn't seem to be there.

Painkillers and marijuana are remarkably similar. They act upon the 
brain to tell it, "It doesn't hurt," but when the "medicine" wears 
off, the suffering resumes. Like alcohol, pot is becoming more 
readily available and disturbingly overused.

Whether or not that comprises addiction, there are ample examples of 
users whose personalities and mental acuity have been negatively 
impacted. Galia might want to ask Tommy Chong what disease his toking 
has cured.

- - Donald M. Polzin, Orland
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom