MARIJUANA PROMOTES PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

We can thank Jerome Kellner for his plea to stop the legalization of
marijuana (Letters, Nov. 26). The drug rehabs and wilderness programs
in the U.S. have staff working round the clock assisting young adults
whose lives have been devastated by the use of marijuana.

Our greatest obstacle has been the unspoken acceptance of its use
because so many adults in respected professions use it secretly with
others and promote it by blaming any ill effects on other drugs. It
has been a lonely battle as a parent whose child's friends and even
their teachers use it with other parents.

The reality is that those who use it cannot be without it. Depression
and paranoia set in and eventually the inevitable irritable syndrome
for any authority surfaces too. Marijuana leads to isolation, lack of
motivation and ambition and disrupts the natural development of maturity.

The brain receptors become limp like wet noodles. The psychological
addiction to marijuana is paralyzing. That's exactly why users who can
function OK fight to propagate it. This selfishness costs the peace of
family lives whose loved ones undergo severe personality changes.

Our prisons are filled with drug addicts and they all say "a joint
won't do no harm." It is simply terrifying. I think it is terroristic
to advocate the use of marijuana because many young folks are falling
prey to a dim future.

I wish we could do better as human beings and stick to advocating
sobriety. Inhaling fresh air is a great start.

Nicoleta Neagoy

Kula