Pubdate: Thu, 14 Aug 2014
Source: Chico News & Review, The (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.newsreview.com/chico/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/559
Author: Nathan Esplanade
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n627/a03.html

ANOTHER TAKE ON LEGALIZATION

Re "An end to prohibition" (Editorial, July 31):

The CN&R's argument that marijuana should be legalized because the
associated punishment is more harmful than its use itself is not only
circular, it's short-sighted. Marijuana is actually quite harmful in
that like any intoxicant, it impairs judgment and motor skills
critical to personal and public safety-not just driving and operating
machinery, but also while socializing and having sex.

Like alcohol, marijuana precludes us from maintaining intelligent
conversation that facilitates our making and maintaining friendships
with attractive, responsible, intelligent people. Further, like
tobacco, marijuana's bad for our lungs and immune systems, it's
expensive, it stinks, it makes us fat, and it's a fire hazard.
Moreover, as with alcohol, smoking marijuana encourages others to do
it and suffer the same ill effects.

Growing marijuana's also bad for the environment. It encourages people
to lay waste to natural areas and to drain and pollute the air and
streams. It's taxing to law-enforcement, health care and the courts.

People need to stop being lazy and learn to overcome their inhibitions
naturally instead of turning to alcohol, marijuana and other drugs. If
they really need pain relief, they can get cheap prescription
medication over the Internet.

Nathan Esplanade

Corning
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MAP posted-by: Matt