Letter: Marijuana too often glorified

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2002 | 8:52 a.m.

I am happy that you published Charles A. Hagen's Aug. 11 letter, "Consider effects of marijuana." I feel that too many articles are published glorifying or minimizing that drug.

Two fictions are popularized: First, that marijuana is not addictive; second, that it is not a "gateway drug." As to addiction, the last time I checked the Internet, it was estimated that around 160,000 people are in rehabilitation for marijuana alone.

Not all persons have addictive personalities, but for those who do have such, it is too risky to make this drug readily available and patently safe. As to the gateway effect, both alcohol and marijuana lower mental inhibitions against taking even more dangerous drugs.

I have suffered from glaucoma for at least 15 years. For that there are any number of legal drugs that are better than marijuana, therefore, the whole issue of medicinal use is fallacious. Since it is a dangerous drug, it is likewise stupid to increase the quantity necessary for arrest.

I am tired of having stoned people in public places and on the roads bumping into me. I don't presume to know the ultimate solution to drug use, but before legalization, we should look at those countries and governments where it has been tried and what were the results. Total failure, I have concluded.

LORRIN PETERSON Pahrump

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