Pubdate: Sun, 06 Jan 2013
Source: Telegraph, The (Nashua, NH)
Copyright: 2013 Telegraph Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.nashuatelegraph.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/885
Author: Nate Jensen

MARIJUANA SHOULD BE DECRIMINALIZED IN NH

Letter to the Editor

Twenty years ago, I nearly lost a family member to marijuana. He is
one of the 2-3 percent of the population who are hyper-reactive to
pot and his habitual use in college reduced him over time to a 
near-vegetative state. Had he continued to smoke, he would
have likely remained permanently psychotic. Fortunately, he sought
treatment before he fell into that abyss.

In spite of my family member's harrowing experience, I am firmly
convinced that the time has come to decriminalize marijuana. Though
there are real dangers to its use, I believe that the prohibition of
marijuana is self-defeating. My relative abused it because it was
illegal. He was rebelling. What's worse, he didn't seek treatment
until it was almost too late, because he didn't want to admit that
he'd been breaking the law.

How many people have not sought help when they need it most because we
have made them criminals? Prohibition of marijuana today is just as
stupid as prohibition of alcohol was 80 years ago. I therefore urge
our representatives to vote for the current bill to decriminalize
marijuana before the New Hampshire General Court.

Nate Jensen

Amherst
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