Pubdate: Thu, 11 Apr 2013
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO)
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/qFJNhZNm
Copyright: 2013 St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Website: http://www.stltoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/418
Author: Roger McWilliams

MISSOURI SHOULD FOLLOW OTHER STATES BY ENDING MARIJUANA PROHIBITION

A pathetic public disservice, "A case against legalizing marijuana" 
(April 9) recycles 1970s drug-war disinformation. "Not so fast"? 52 
percent now favor legal pot. California legalized medicinal use in 
1996, and 13 more states and Washington, D.C., have since followed. 
Colorado and Washington legalized recreational weed in 2012, with 12 
more states expected by 2017, according to the Marijuana Policy Project.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse has lost the war on 
pot. It should focus on alcoholism and real drug abuse (meth, 
heroin), and stop promoting pot stigmatization, punitive mandates and 
unjust incarceration. Unlike cigarettes and alcohol, marijuana is not 
physically addictive and never killed anyone; overdose is impossible. 
Suppressed science consistently confirms long-established benefits of 
medical weed and minimal potential for harm.

Responsible pot smokers can celebrate this April 20 as the first "420 
Day" in 76 years that pot was legal in the U.S. A well-regulated hemp 
and cannabis industry being necessary to Missouri's fiscal future and 
its citizens' freedom, end marijuana prohibition now.

Roger McWilliams . Maryland Heights
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom