Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jan 2013
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2013 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Robert Sharpe
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n019/a07.html
Page: 21A

PATRICK KENNEDY'S CRITICISM OF LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

Re: "Anti-pot forces launch post-election effort," Jan. 10 news story.

Don't be fooled by Patrick J. Kennedy's vision of a kinder, gentler 
drug war. His reefer madness revival campaign is an insult to 
Colorado voters. There is a difference between occasional use and 
chronic abuse. Just as most people who drink an occasional glass of 
red wine with dinner don't need mandatory substance abuse treatment, 
the vast majority of marijuana users don't either.

In terms of daily use, many marijuana smokers have turned their lives 
around by putting down the bottle and picking up the marijuana pipe. 
These former alcoholics no longer wake up with debilitating 
hangovers. They are no longer at risk of overdose death. Because they 
have chosen a safer alternative to alcohol, they now lead productive lives.

Forcing pot smokers to relapse into alcoholism is not a good use of 
tax dollars. The war on marijuana is a cultural inquisition, not a 
public health campaign.

Robert Sharpe, Arlington, Va. The writer is a policy analyst for 
Common Sense for Drug Policy.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom