Pubdate: Tue, 23 May 2017
Source: Penticton Herald (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.pentictonherald.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/664
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v17/n172/a01.html
Author: Mark Billesberger
Page: A9

BOOZE FAR WORSE THAN MARIJUANA

Dear Editor: This letter is in response to two recent letters to the 
editor with regards to the subject of marijuana and whether or not it 
should be legal.

The first letter from D. Simpson of Kelowna ("Marijuana not part of
God's law, Herald, May 17), I am a little confused. If pot was not
part of God's law, then why did He put it on earth to begin with?
Marijuana has been around for tens of thousands of years (probably
much longer.) Tell me, was alcohol part of God's plan? Did He plan to
ruin families, finances, and lives? I thought He was a loving God. I
will cite the quote used in the letter. In 2 Peter 1:3, "that we have
been given all things that pertain to life and Godliness." This
includes marijuana.

For some reason people think that as soon as marijuana is legal,
throngs of people are going to start using it and we will have stoned
drivers all over the place (like it's not happening now; how many
drivers out there on prescription opioids?) I call BS on that. People
are not abstaining just because it is illegal now.

As far as losing touch with God, all I can say is that before I
started using, my spiritual life was non-existent. I pay a lot more
attention to my spiritual side now.

A study was done to see how pot affects one's ability to operate a
motor vehicle. Colorado State troopers set up a closed course and had
drivers do the course, first straight, then under the influence of
pot. It wasn't until the driver was seven times the legal limit that
the trooper said he would pull the person over.

The second letter was entitled "Marijuana legalization a bad idea"
(Okanagan Saturday, May 20). The letter writer says "pot production
might bring a few jobs." It will bring thousands of jobs (growers,
trimmers, warehouse personnel, security staff, new businesses with
dispensaries, increased business for places like Brinks, who will have
a lot more money to move.) It's a win-win-win situation.

Ms. Eberle is wrong in her statement that marijuana is the most
commonly abused drug around the world. First of all it is not a drug,
it is an herb. Secondly, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine are the most
widely abused drugs around the world.

I always hear people whining about wanting world peace. Want world
peace? Make it mandatory world wide for everyone over 18 to smoke one
joint in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening.
That way nobody will be angry enough to pick up a gun.

Like Rodney Dangerfield said of pot: "Booze is 100 times worse. The
last thing you feel like doing after smoking a joint is getting into a
fight." Enough said.

Mark Billesberger

Penticton
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