MARIJUANA LAW NOT AS DESCRIBED

This is in response to Red Chandler's "Some advantages to legal
marijuana" letter to the editor on Dec. 8.

I was highly disgusted when I read his letter to the editor. First of
all, he seems to think that all marijuana is now legal. Maybe he needs
to read the law a little closer - it's medical marijuana that is now
legal.

It's also ridiculous to say that the group of citizens who pushed to
have this law enacted is the 1960s generation. There was a wide range
of ages, races and political affiliations who voted yes on this
proposition.

Chandler also seems to think that illegal marijuana smokers are those
who do not pay taxes, which is just an asinine statement. There are
plenty of marijuana smokers who are hard-working, good taxpaying
citizens of this state.

Also, Chandler states that "unlike alcohol, their metabolism is slowed
down so those stoned on marijuana won't be involved in high-speed
chases." Well, alcohol does slow down one's metabolism and quite a
deal more than marijuana. And legalizing medical marijuana will not
lower the number of high-speed chases in the state.

Marijuana will still be sold illegally on the streets because only
medical marijuana is legal and Arizona has made it quite clear that it
will not be as loose as California with its prescriptions. Therefore,
people who cannot gain a card will still turn to the streets.

Chandler also stated, "Another advantage is when they are arrested,
they will go quietly to jail." I have to ask why would he think
someone who is smoking marijuana legally be going to jail?

Also, he states that marijuana is higher in tar and nicotine than
cigarettes and therefore users would die faster than non-users. He
sees this as an advantage? This is the part of his letter that really
struck a chord with me. How dare he say something so cruel.

First off, he needs to get his facts straight: There is no nicotine in
marijuana. Second, how dare he state that it is an advantage to the
state that marijuana smokers die faster than someone else!

Then Chandler starts judging "a long-haired guy or one wearing granny
glasses and a sweatband" as people who smoke marijuana. Didn't your
mother ever teach you not to judge a book by its cover?

The legalization of medical marijuana is for people who need it, such
as patients with cancer or fibromyalgia. Does this mean that these
people are all long-haired hippies? I think not.

People need to read about all the good that medical marijuana can do
for a patient's life before they start throwing stones. I personally
have family members with cancer and if marijuana can ease their pain,
then that's great! I support medical marijuana 100 percent.

Vanessa Schaffer

Yuma