Letter: Marijuana Messages Must Change
Stan White
March 5, 2009
The Maneater (MO)
A beneficial component of re-legalizing cannabis (marijuana) that doesn't get mentioned (in the March 2 article "Support For The Legalization Of Marijuana Increases") is that it will lower hard drug addiction rates. Drug Abuse Resistance Education will have to stop brainwashing youth into believing lies, half-truths and propaganda concerning cannabis, which creates grave future problems.
How many citizens try cannabis and realize it's not nearly as harmful as taught in D.A.R.E. type government environments? Then they think other substances must not be so bad either, only to become addicted to deadly drugs. The old lessons make cannabis out to be among the worst substances in the world, even though it's less addictive than coffee and has never killed a single person.
The federal government even classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance along with heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are only Schedule II substances. For the health and welfare of America's children and adults that dangerous and irresponsible message absolutely must change.
Further, regulated cannabis sales would make it so citizens who purchase cannabis would not come into contact with people who often also sell hard drugs, which would lower hard drug addiction rates.
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