THE VARVEL MARIJUANA CARTOON MISSES MARK

The March 19 editorial cartoon by Gary Varvel is another example of
prohibitionist propaganda and how some will twist the truth no matter
where it comes from.

The Institute of Medicine's (IOM) report said that there is no
evidence that allowing medical use of marijuana would lead to an
increase in recreational use. By Varvel's logic, kids must also think
that cocaine and morphine "are cool" as well as they are both legally
prescribable medications.

It is also misleading to tie Joe Camel and the cigarette industry with
the pro-marijuana movement. It was the tobacco companies that lied.
But with medical marijuana it is the government who has lied.

The institute's report proved what the medical marijuana movement has
said for years; that marijuana is not addictive, does not lead to hard
drugs and has medical value, and that medical use will not increase
recreational use. The report even called for new rapid onset delivery
systems, something that marijuana advocates have long asked for.

Kids don't think pot is safe because of the legalization movement.
They find out through experimentation that pot is, at the least, not
as dangerous as the government and some groups claim.

Why should they believe these people about hard drugs, which are
dangerous, when they know they have been lied to about marijuana.
Trying to keep kids in the dark will only cause problems.

Brad Manzenberger
Terre Haute, IN