Pubdate: Thu, 20 Mar 2014
Source: Boston Herald (MA)
Copyright: 2014 The Boston Herald, Inc
Contact:  http://news.bostonherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/53
Note: Prints only very short LTEs.
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n257/a06.html
Author: Stan White

CONFUSING POT MESSAGES

Calling marijuana a "gateway drug" to other drug use is a discredited 
theory ("Let's weed out idea that pot is not harmful," March 13). 
Besides that, both alcohol and nicotine use are more likely to lead 
to drug dependence than cannabis, according to Scientific American.

However, the U.S. prohibition on marijuana does cause those who want 
pot to seek out illegal drug dealers, which puts them into contact 
with people who often also sell hard drugs. Ending pot prohibition 
would stop that. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency classifies 
marijuana as a Schedule I "most dangerous" substance alongside 
heroin. Meanwhile methamphetamine and cocaine are only Schedule II 
substances, or less dangerous. How many Americans tried cannabis and 
realized it is not nearly as dangerous as claimed and believed other 
substances must not be either? Cannabis prohibitionists are, 
therefore, sending the wrong message to vulnerable citizens.

- - Stan White, Dillon, Colo.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom