MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION NEEDS EQUAL EXPOSURE

Editor,

After reading the article on the legalization of marijuana, I was let
down. One article was a brief, vague and weak argument on why to not
legalize marijuana. It was followed by a narrative, that after
reading a few times, still has no point, nor does it address
legalization/decriminalization. Therefore, I would like to send this
out to educate and debate the other side.

First, Frank Male has an issue with the fact that legalization would
increase government bureaucracy. We are in a horrible economy; people
are getting laid off left and right. In a worst-case scenario in
which the government can't afford to create jobs, let farmers,
gardeners, florists, anyone start growing. It's agriculture. Unlike
cigarettes and alcohol, marijuana is a plant. It grows. It's ready.
If corn got you high, would you have the same problem?

Next, it would be much cheaper: No dealer can undercut mass
production and the dreaded middle man. It doesn't even have to be
regulated -- let people grow it in their homes.

The article also goes on to talk about the health effects of
marijuana. It lists, "It does nothing good to your lungs, works as a
great demotivator and can ruin your life" ... I'm sorry, but if those
are the only negatives, how is it not legal?

Here's another list: emphysema, heart attacks, strokes, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer. Guess what that is. Here's
a clue: It has 4,000 chemicals.

Alcohol, another winner for good health, causes alcoholism, cirrhosis
of the liver, cardiovascular disease and cancer to name a few. Not to
mention the hangovers, violence, rapes and suicides all caused by
alcohol. If you are talking health, marijuana might be the most
healthy vice around.

Great demotivator" -- I'm writing this. Saying that using it "can
ruin your life" as a reason to not legalize marijuana is ridiculous.
Anything can ruin someone's life, from an individual to a group, a
company, another vice, environmental disasters, food. Obesity is
becoming as big of a problem as smoking. Do you want to only legalize
healthy foods? The article ends with the quote, "I prefer my
bourbon." Sounds like an alcoholic to me.

The problem with that is that marijuana, like it or not, is a huge
part of our culture, especially as college students. If a part of our
culture is going to be negatively represented, it should be equally
represented. If a parade of people walked the streets for civil
rights, no one would condemn them.

However, if a parade was held for marijuana, they would all be
labeled "potheads." Good people are going to jail, some getting
killed. Lives are getting ruined because marijuana is illegal, and
the government can cut jail costs and lives by just giving the people
the "forbidden fruit."

Marijuana is a civil rights issue and should be treated as a civil
rights issue.

Kyle Patterson

Freshman in mechanical engineering