Pubdate: Tue, 23 Apr 2013
Source: Daily Iowegian (Centerville, IA)
Copyright: 2013 Daily Iowegian
Contact:  http://www.dailyIowegian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3633
Author: Curt Swarm
Page: 4

NO TO LEGALIZING POT

I can only speak from my own experience. In my opinion marijuana
should not be legalized. The last thing we need is another get-high
drug with questionable medical benefits.

This is my experience: I smoked a lot of pot. I used it as an
alternative to alcohol which had disastrous effects on me. I found
that with pot I didn't have black outs, I didn't have hangovers and I
could get high without getting in trouble. No problem.

The problem was: I was getting high every day, I was compromising my
family's finances and I was getting a lot less accomplished. One more
thing: my appetite was way out of control when I was high. When I was
told that I was smoking too much pot, my reply was that at least I
wasn't getting drunk. Marijuana in itself may not be addictive, but
the need for escape, the high, which marijuana provides, is.

Of course, marijuana at the time I'm talking about (70s - 80s), was
very illegal. Therefore, it could be, at times, hard to get. What
happened was: during a dry spell - a time when pot was not available -
in order to get the high I thought I needed, I turned to my old friend
(enemy), alcohol. In a matter of days, I became a slobbering drunk,
and almost died.

Proponents of legalizing marijuana argue that marijuana is not a
gateway drug. In my case, it most assuredly was. These same proponents
might argue that, if marijuana was legalized, it would be readily
available and I wouldn't have had to turn to another drug. Let me be
perfectly clear on this point: for me, life with any moodaltering
substance can be disastrous. The last thing I need is to catch the
drift of marijuana smoke in the air while out walking Holly Dog.

Proponents also argue that if marijuana was legalized, it could be
controlled, and taxed, like cigarettes. Please, God, not another
legal, taxable, killer.

As far as the pain-relieving benefits of marijuana - I have never
experienced such. In fact, my experience was the exact opposite.

Pain was sharpened or heightened by the use of marijuana.

However, I have read some pretty convincing accounts claiming that
only marijuana brought relief from the pain of such-and-such a condition.

If this is so, and I believe it may be, well, let the FDA classify it
as such - but not for conditions like a chronic carbuncle.

I do know a person with a prescription for medical marijuana. This
person tells me that in prescription form, marijuana is much higher
quality, and the selection is broader. As compared to "ditch weed,"
where you take what you can get, prescription marijuana is a much
better product. You can get the kind that motivates rather than
demotivates.
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