Letter: Marijuana: Too Dangerous To Legalize This Gateway Drug
Sheila Marston
February 22, 2009
The News Tribune (Tacoma, WA)
Re: Robert Sharpe's support for legalizing marijuana (letter, 2-15).
Brain scans of habitual marijuana users reflect significant damage. The use of marijuana as an introductory drug often leads to the abuse of more potently addictive drugs.
Marijuana is known to destroy one's ability to motivate oneself in life. Family members and employers lose the ability to connect positively with the lethargic, slower-responding mind of the marijuana user.
Athletes like Michael Phelps with a history of ADHD are prime candidates for addiction and more. Withdrawal of financial rewards is appropriate for his failure to maintain role-modeling behavior.
If he learns a lesson, it may save him from a future life of drug-induced pain inflicted on himself and others. | 
