Pubdate: Fri, 02 Nov 2012
Source: Ravalli Republic (Hamilton, MT)
Copyright: 2012 Ravalli Republic
Contact:  http://www.ravallirepublic.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3254
Author: Jeff Kushner

IR124: KEEP TIGHT CONTROLS ON MARIJUANA

As Montanans, although our intentions were good, we were fooled by
marijuana advocates who got free rein and basically legalized
marijuana in Montana.

Fortunately, the Legislature came to our rescue and placed tight
restrictions on the use of marijuana.

Let's not be fooled again and go back to the dangerous place that
marijuana advocates led us to before, where you could get a marijuana
card over the Internet, where unscrupulous doctors held caravans
across the state encouraging healthy people to get cards as long as
they could pay for it, where felony and misdemeanor probationers
easily got cards, where dispensaries opened next to schools, where
people drove from other states to get their "weed," when there were
31,000 card holders instead of the current 3,000.

Protect your children and yourself; vote "yes" on Initiative
Referendum No. 124.

- - Marijuana elevates the risk of testicular, bladder and lung
cancer.

- - Harvard researchers report that the risk of heart attack is five
times higher an hour after smoking marijuana.

- - Smoking marijuana during pregnancy affects the fetus (small
brain-weight babies with smaller head size, cardiac murmurs, small eye
openings, broad low nasal bridge and low-set ears). According to one
study, 41 percent of pot smokers' babies require oxygen resuscitation
at birth.

- - Marijuana is linked to long-term psychiatric problems (depression,
anxiety and psychosis).

- - Marijuana use is linked with dropping out of school, unemployment
and social welfare dependence compared to nonusers.

- - The head of Montana's Department of Justice narcotics bureau stated
that crime increased in 78 percent of the state's jurisdictions when
medical marijuana became legal.

- - Treatment admissions for marijuana use have dramatically increased
(11.4 percent in Montana) and are higher than for heroin,
methamphetamine, cocaine and prescription painkillers.

Does this sound like "medicine"?

Vote "yes" on IR124 and keep the restrictions on marijuana.

Jeff Kushner,

Victor
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MAP posted-by: Matt