LEGALIZING POT: A DOPEY IDEA

Would our state be better off if more Californians were stoned? We
don't think so.

Legalizing marijuana would lead to more people driving under the
influence. Lanny Swerdlow argues on this page that it would free up
police from pursuing drug abusers and generate $1.4 billion in new
state tax revenue.

Police officials tell us the impact would be minimal. Swerdlow cites
the state Board of Equalization on the tax projections, but we're not
convinced. Marijuana is cheap and easy to cultivate in the backyard.

Prolonged use of marijuana and its alluring chemical,
delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, can pose serious health risks,
according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

It can lead to addiction. "Long-term marijuana abusers trying to quit
report irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety and
drug craving, all of which make it difficult to quit," the institute
says.

It can impair mental health. "A number of studies have shown an
association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of
anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and schizophrenia."

It can harm your lungs. "Marijuana smoke contains 50 percent to 70
percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke.
Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath
longer than tobacco smokers do, which further increase the lungs'
exposure to carcinogenic smoke."

And it can hurt your heart. "Marijuana increases heart rate by 20
percent to 100 percent shortly after smoking."

We also wonder how neighboring states would react. Would there be
checkpoints at every road into Arizona, Nevada and Oregon? Would the
federal government withhold funding?

The Desert Sun simply doesn't believe California would be better off
if marijuana were legal. Vote no on Proposition 19.