Re: SPEAKER REBUTS DRUG POLICY

To the Editor,

Stephen H. Frye hit the bull's-eye calling for credible drug law
reform (Speaker Rebuts Drug Policy, Feb. 19, 2009) and that means
Re-legalizing cannabis (marijuana) at the very least.

One beneficial component of re-legalizing cannabis that doesn't get
mentioned is that it will lower hard drug addiction rates. DARE (Drug
Abuse Resistance Education) brainwashes youth into believing lies,
half-truths and propaganda concerning cannabis, which causes grave
future problems.

How many citizens try cannabis and realize it's not nearly as harmful
as taught in DARE type government environments? Then they think other
substances must not be so bad either, only to become addicted to
deadly drugs. The old lessons make cannabis out to be among the worst
substances in the world, even though it's never killed a single person.

The federal government even classifies cannabis as a Schedule I
substance along with heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are
only Schedule II substances. For the health and welfare of America's
children and adults that message absolutely must change.

Regulated cannabis sales also would make it so citizens who purchase
cannabis would not come into contact with people who often also sell
hard drugs which would lower hard drug addiction rates.

Stan White