Pubdate: Mon, 06 Jul 2015
Source: Sun, The (Yuma, AZ)
Copyright: 2015 The Sun
Contact: http://www.yumasun.com/sections/opinion/submit-letters/
Website: http://www.yumasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1258
Author: J. Blackburn

MARIJUANA SHOULD NOT BE LEGALIZED

Let me start by saying that I was an investigator who headed up the 
juvenile narcotic bureau for a major city in northern California. In 
1960, I was assigned to work drug abuse problems that was occurring 
in our local school district.

In my 20 plus years of working with countless amounts of juveniles 
and parents whose sons or daughters were involved in drug use, I saw 
on a daily basis how marijuana affected the juvenile, as well as the 
effects it had on the family. In my experience, I see marijuana as a 
gateway drug. The user is introduced to other people involved in the 
drug culture, who want to turn these stoners on to other drugs.

In my view, I see much of America going to "pot" and no one seems to 
care. With the rise of moral liberalism, many Americans believe that 
people should be free to engage in anything.

In a recent Yuma Sun editorial, it was noted that legalizing 
marijuana would be an economic boom for Arizona. This was based on 
what the article believed to be going on in Colorado. Let's look at 
the state of Colorado with the so-called legalization of marijuana.

We find that there's more marijuana being sold illegally than through 
the state marijuana stores.

What's the reason? The illegal people do not have to pay taxes.

Colorado is being invaded by a large amount of young people who have 
no income to support themselves but are attracted to Denver because 
of the laws pertaining to marijuana.

Homeless shelters are filled and we also see the escalating amount of 
people being arrested for driving under the influence. Whatever 
amount of money that would be going to help the schools and create 
many new jobs in Arizona, it would be negated by the amount of money 
that would be going into mental health and social agencies. 
Arizonans, don't be fooled, just look around and see what problems 
that we're facing with marijuana in our state at this time. When the 
time comes, stand up and vote no because we cannot afford to legalize 
marijuana in Arizona.

J. BLACKBURN Foothills
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom