Pubdate: Mon, 05 May 2014
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2014 Star Tribune
Contact: http://www.startribunecompany.com/143
Website: http://www.startribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266
Author: David Detert

THE POLICE INTEREST, OR RATHER CONFLICT THEREOF

Aside from helping a relatively small group with intractable 
seizures, anorexia or nausea, the proposal for medical marijuana 
would provide a large group of individuals with chronic pain, PTSD, 
etc., with a mood-altering drug. If the goal is an improved quality 
of life by mood alteration, wouldn't more be better? If marijuana is 
good, why not go for great with legal cocaine, methamphetamine and 
narcotics? Just thought I would ask ...

Nicotine in cigarettes and e-cigarettes, like THC in marijuana, is a 
neurotransmitter. Many people with psychiatric disease use nicotine 
to treat their illness, as marijuana users might. Why should society 
discriminate against those who self-medicate with nicotine by high 
taxes and no-smoking areas and not marijuana? Just thought I would ask ..

Obviously, alcohol is the most prevalent of mind-altering drugs, 
causing major social and financial costs to society. So how does 
adding another mind-altering drug - marijuana - improve the 
situation? Alcohol abuse and the failure of the war on drugs show 
that prohibition doesn't work. If some citizens demand the right to 
use mood-altering drugs, knowing the potential consequences, should 
the rest of society be required to provide aid or treatment for those 
consequences? Just thought I would ask ...

Dr. David Detert, Northfield
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom