Pubdate: Tue, 10 Dec 2013
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2013 The Tribune Co.
Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/
Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Brian Kurland
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n579/a11.html

POOR PUBLIC POLICY

Responding to Richard Craig's "A war on people"  (Your Views, Dec. 
5), I hope he was not as poor a detective as he is a purported 
authority on marijuana. Abstracts of thousands of peer-reviewed 
articles available on PubMed attest to the fact that cannabis is 
indeed addictive.

Marijuana has been shown to have profound, negative effects on the 
cardiovascular, respiratory and immune systems; on neurocognitive 
function and IQ; and on the brain's delicate neurotransmitter 
systems, including the endogenous cannabinoid system.

Furthermore, marijuana use dramatically increases the lifetime 
likelihood of being diagnosed with severe mental illnesses such as 
schizophrenia and depersonalization, and it exacerbates existing 
affective anxiety and depressive disorders.

As for comparisons to alcohol, the two substances and their use 
patterns couldn't be more different.

Most consumers of alcohol do not drink to the point of intoxication, 
and those who do on any regular basis are considered problem drinkers 
or alcoholics, and are (rightfully) urged into treatment.

With marijuana, the primary reason users ingest it is to become 
intoxicated, as a self-indulgent form of escapism.

It is the acceptance of this culture of so-called "recreational" drug 
use that is really the problem.

Condoning the practice of becoming intoxicated under the influence of 
a powerful, mind- altering euphoriant such as marijuana will lead to 
higher incidences of traffic and other types of accidents, diminished 
workplace productivity and higher rates of absenteeism, and to an 
overall societal malaise.

Giving in to those who simply want unfettered access to their drug of 
choice is poor public policy and is the wrong path for our society to go down.

Brian Kurland,

Lutz
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom