DRUG LAWS NECESSARY AND LOGICAL

It's been said marijuana is less harmful then alcohol and cigarettes and
nowhere near as addictive.

Proponents of legalization make lots of different arguments about the
benefits of the drug and the "uselessness" of punishing users, but all of
these are dangerous and erroneous beliefs.

The effects of marijuana are well documented in many studies. Some effects
include dizziness, trouble walking, bloodshot eyes, and trouble judging
distances and colors ( www.drugfreeamerica.org ).

It's also been reported that smoking five marijuana cigarettes in a week
does the same damage to your lungs as does smoking a pack of cigarettes a
day for the same period ( www.drugfreeamerica.org ).

Denise Kandel, an addiction epidemiologist at Columbia University, analyzed
data from the U.S. National Household Survey on Drug Abuse and concluded
about 15 percent of teenagers report three or more symptoms of dependence
from a list of six possible symptoms; anything from "feeling dependent" to
being unable to quit to needing more and more of the drug each time
("Marijuana Special Report," www.newscientist.com, Feb. 21, 1998).

Since all of these symptomatic elements also apply to alcohol, it shows
marijuana is just as addictive as alcohol. Alcohol already causes one
fatality every 32 minutes -- do we really want to take a chance with adding
marijuana to the mix (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration)

Legalizing marijuana is a no-brainer: it is a horrible idea that would cause
an unending amount of problems. Alcohol alone causes an enormous number of
traffic accidents -- do you really want that number increased?

The November Coalition, an interest group for the legalization of marijuana,
states on their website that marriages suffer because of absent spouses who
are incarcerated because of drug use.

The judicial system, they claim, has no respect for families during
prosecution. That's marvelous -- we should stop prosecuting all criminals
that have families to keep things fair.

In that case, serial killer Ted Bundy shouldn't have been given the death
penalty for butchering young women, he should still be free. He has family.
Brilliant idea.

Some proponents of legalization say the U.S. Government is violating
citizens' rights to choose by not legalizing drugs. I could turn around and
say, "My constitutional right to own dangerous assault weapons is being
infringed upon," and it will sound just about as stupid and dangerous.

Assault weapons are banned for a good reason -- they are far too dangerous
and unnecessary. Marijuana, likewise, is banned because it is far too
dangerous.

The November Coalition goes so far as to say due to the "politics of
prohibition" regarding marijuana, marijuana prices are up to $2500 per pound
, cocaine is 5 times more valuable than gold per ounce and "it is folly for
government to defy human nature" ( www.november.org ).

It's also human nature to get into fist fights over disagreements, to lie,
cheat and steal to get what we want. Let's go ahead and make fraud and
assault legal, while we're at it, since those things are human nature, too.

What truly frightens me are the people for legalization who don't realize
their arguments can be applied across the board to a variety of topics no
one in their right mind would legalize.

A lot of people claim marijuana is useful for medicinal purposes, for
example treating glaucoma, and it should be legal so more people could get
it.

The FDA has stringent guidelines regarding drugs on the market. Each one
goes through rigorous testing to ensure usefulness and no harmful side
effects.

Introducing a drug before it's ready is dangerous. You wouldn't risk that
with Viagra or Prozac so don't risk it with marijuana.

Even Libertarian Presidential Candidate

Harry Browne got into the act saying, "It is not the government's business
to tell people what they should or should not put in their bodies" (
www.norml.org ). He also claims he would pardon every non-violent drug
offender to make room for rapists, murderers and the like who got out on
early release and parole.

This says a great deal about how a lot of marijuana advocates feel that
marijuana use is not a crime and should not be punished.

There is nothing wrong with imprisoning people for using marijuana, as it is
still a crime.

If something must be changed, reform the parole and probation laws, but
don't let criminals off.

As long as it is the law, it should and must be enforced.

What advocates fail to realize is marijuana use is harmful, dangerous and
still a crime, and just like murder, it must not be swayed by popular votes.

It must be punished.