Pubdate: Mon, 06 Jan 2014
Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock, AR)
Copyright: 2014 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
Contact: http://www2.arkansasonline.com/contact/voicesform/
Website: http://www2.arkansasonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/25
Note: Accepts letters to the editor from Arkansas residents only

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH

Keep Your Eyes on the COLO News Wires

"They call marijuana a gateway drug. Medical marijuana could be 
called a gateway law. And the fight to keep such a law off the books 
in Arkansas isn't over yet. More petitions and votes are coming. 
Brace yourself. And until then, let's all keep a close eye on 
Colorado. Which might be hard. It's like watching a family member 
struggle with an addiction." - Arkansas Democrat-Gazette March 12, 2013

A COUPLE of groups are said to be working on getting a medical 
marijuana law on the books in Arkansas-again. The last effort was 
barely defeated at the polls. But the fight ain't over.

You'll remember that's how it all started in Colorado: with medical 
marijuana. You know, just to be humane to those who are ill and need 
the "medication." Never mind that the drug in weed that can help 
folks ease the pain of some diseases can be found in a pill and 
distributed by legal pharmacists. But few really thought that those 
pushing marijuana would stop at its "medical uses." It's all about 
complete legalization. Always has been.

After Colorado legalized medical marijuana, it wasn't long before the 
state legalized pot for recreational use, at least for those over 21. 
Then just last month the city council in Denver decided that the law 
wasn't fair to 18-year-olds and is still considering whether to lower 
the age restrictions in the city limits. Wow. Talk about a slippery 
slope. Call it a dead drop off a cliff.

It's always a good idea to read the news coming out of Colorado when 
it comes to the legalization of marijuana. The better to arm yourself 
when those outfits in Arkansas start knocking on your door, wanting 
you to sign a petition in favor of medical marijuana.

Here's more news off the COLO wire: Some rehab centers in Colorado 
are prepping for an increase in patients. Teenaged patients. How can 
that be? The law is the law, and it says young people can't have ... .

Yeah, right. They also can't drink booze, either, but somehow kids 
get into the liquor cabinet. If it's around, the kids will get into 
the stash. And in Colorado these days, pot is around. It's all over the place.

The papers quoted a Dr. Christian Thurstone, a professor of 
psychiatry at the University of Colorado. He's also the head of a 
teen rehab center. He says 95 percent of the referrals to his 
clinic-for teens, mind you-is for marijuana use. He's had to double 
his staff since November, and he still has a waiting list for folks 
wanting to get in.

ABC News quoted an addictions expert named Ben Court who works at the 
University of Colorado's Hospital Center for Dependency. He's seen 
first-hand how teens already dealing with mental illness can be 
harmed by marijuana, especially the highly potent stuff going around 
these days. He saw one kid act so crazy he was almost shot by cops.

"For the person on shaky ground, you add this to the equation and 
it's gas on the fire," Mr. Court said.

Every week, it seems, there is another story or two coming out of 
Colorado that should scare parents, and everybody else, in this 
state. It's a drip, drip, drip of scary news. Or make that a toke, toke, toke.

It's bad enough watching what's happening in Colorado. Let's not 
bring those problems to Arkansas.

Medical marijuana? No thank you please. Some of us still have eyes to see.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom