Pubdate: Mon, 24 Mar 2014
Source: Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, NH)
Copyright: 2014 Geo. J. Foster Co.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mYsCsdPU
Website: http://www.fosters.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/160
Author: Robert Miles

ABOUT POT

To the editor: Two observations on the marijuana question:

1. New Hampshire seems to be in the grip of a pervasive 
schizophrenia; on the one hand, parents and educators are demanding 
newer, bigger and better schools for their children. "Our kids 
deserve the best," is the banner cry. Seems reasonable; kids are the 
future, and educated kids will presumably contribute mightily to a 
better future for all of us. Sounds reasonable to me.

2) Another equally vocal segment of the populace is demanding the 
legalization of marijuana for recreational use, shouting for the 
freedom to indulge in the inhalation or ingestion of cannabis at any 
time, without breaking the law.

Now, the schizophrenia manifests when I read reports in medical 
journals and equally authoritative sources stating that marijuana use 
can negatively impact the IQ and cognitive development of young 
people. And I must admit I have yet to find the first report stating 
that marijuana use will improve mental functioning, contribute to a 
longer, healthier life, or in fact, benefit the potsmoker in any way 
. except for specific medical usage in the treatment of a number of 
serious disorders, where cannabis is a prescription drug.

So, school officials and parents want to elevate the chances of their 
kids being better equipped to meet the challenges of the future while 
marijuana advocates are demanding the freedom to indulge in behaviors 
that have never been demonstrated to exert any beneficial cognitive 
effects whatsoever on weed users. And, indeed may have negative consequences.

I guess I'd be more open-minded if I were to see a list of chronic 
marijuana users who have notably contributed to the field of 
medicine, international relations, political reform, science or, even 
aviation, where getting high and not crashing is important.

I'd be interested to know what it is that marijuana does for the 
individual user that might in some way favorably impact society as a whole?

If I were to be convinced of that effect, perhaps I'd find the 
oxymoronic advocacy of the two segments of society mentioned above 
less idiotic.

Robert Miles

Durham
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom