MARIJUANA SUPPORTERS WRITE BACK, SAY IT'S NOT A 'DANGEROUS DRUG'

Marijuana smokers, and some nonsmokers, are upset with Thomas J.
Keinz's letter to the editor, published on Monday's Opinions page,
headlined "Marijuana is dangerous."

Keinz's letter has received attention from coast to coast, thanks to
the Register Star's Web site, www.rrstar.com. Most of the letter
writers, some of whom's syntax, grammar and spelling made me wonder
what they were smoking as they were typing, dispute Keinz's claim
that marijuana is a "gateway drug."

"In fact, research has shown the precise opposite," wrote Bruce
Mirken, director of communications, for the Marijuana Policy Project
in Washington.

"In its White House-commissioned study of marijuana, the prestigious
Institute of Medicine concluded that marijuana 'does not appear to be
a gateway drug to the extent that it is the cause or even the most
significant predictor of serious drug abuse. ... There is no evidence
that marijuana serves as a stepping stone on the basis of its
particular physiological effect.'

"Those who wish to preserve our outdated and harmful marijuana laws
have little choice but to resort to myths and distortions, as the
facts have never been on their side."

So far, 55 people have written about Keinz's letter, which makes it
the most responded to letter in the four plus years I've been
editorial page editor. Some of the letters from local writers will
appear under "Your Views" over the next few days, but here's what
some folks from other parts of the country think:

Kirk Muse, former Rockford and Freeport resident who lives in Mesa,
Ariz: "Nobody claims that marijuana is completely without risk,
however, in the 5,000 year history of its use, there are no
documented deaths from its use.

"On the other hand, if we drink 65 cups of coffee in a single day, we
have a 50 percent chance of dying as a result. So perhaps we should
criminalize coffee and a long list of other potentially unhealthy
foods. For our own good, of course.

"Of course, if we criminalized coffee, coffee would then be
completely unregulated, untaxed and controlled by criminals -- just
like marijuana is today."

Shaun Dickey, who identified himself as a plant scientist, Santa
Cruz, Calif.: "I feel it is important to inform you and your readers
of the truth and the consequences of such illusory writings. While
his article uses ZERO facts to support its widely disproved claim
that cannabis is dangerous, he goes on to compare its use to that of
rape, murder, robbery and assault. These crimes are heinous and
should be dealt with harshly as I'm sure most would agree. However,
use of a substance that is a natural and proven pain reliever, anti-
inflammatory, and anti-emetic drug with a amazingly low level of side
effects is nowhere near violent and aggressive crimes. Such
blasphemous claims have no place in intelligent discourse, especially
not a source of news.

"Because something is illegal has nothing to do with its safety or
morality, it is illegal because of money. If a drug that could
alleviate millions of people's symptoms and pain for various
conditions, cancers and diseases could be grown naturally by anyone
for free, then major drug companies would lose billions of dollars
selling us flashy, unproven (Vioxx), and deadly designer drugs. Maybe
a little scientific research would benefit Mr. Keinz and his Cherry
Valley Regional Drug Free Coalition. Then they could give their
students ACTUAL facts about marijuana and its dangers, as opposed to
scaring them away from the truth with threats of judicial action and
criminal charges.

"The children will readily accept their own responsibility in making
wise choices regarding what drugs are dangerous and which ones have
been scapegoated for decades. I hope that Mr. Keinz can change his
ways before too many youths are informed with fraudulent information
and propaganda."

Robert Sharpe, Arlington, Va.: "If health outcomes determined drug
laws instead of cultural norms marijuana would be legal. Unlike
alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death,
nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. Marijuana can
be harmful if abused, but jail cells are inappropriate as health
interventions and ineffective as deterrents. The first marijuana laws
were enacted in response to Mexican migration during the early 1900s,
despite opposition from the American Medical Association. Dire
warnings that marijuana inspires homicidal rages have been
counterproductive at best.

"White Americans did not even begin to smoke pot until a soon-to-be
entrenched government bureaucracy began funding reefer madness
propaganda. By raiding voter-approved medical marijuana providers in
California, the very same U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that
claims illicit drug use funds terrorism is forcing cancer and AIDS
patients into the hands of street dealers. Apparently marijuana
prohibition is more important than protecting the country from terrorism."

Brandon Cook, Natchez, Miss.: "Please have Mr. Keinz e-mail me the
'studies' that show how dangerous marijuana can be and how it is a
gateway drug. I'm a doctor, a faithful Christian, a loving husband,
and a wonderful father to my 5-year-old girl. Also, I'm an occasional
smoker of marijuana and I don't use other drugs. I don't feel like
I'm a danger to society but maybe I'm crazy from smoking pot and Mr.
Keinz can call the police on me and have me locked up."

The normal course for letters such as Keinz's is for critics to write
in and state their case, then Keinz's supporters will write to defend
his views. I expect to use them in next week's column.

Wally Haas is editorial page editor of the Rockford Register Star.