DON'T BUY INTO PRO-POT PROPAGANDA

I was appalled at U.S. Rep. Bob Filner's lack of understanding of our
laws and the negative effect the proliferation of pot shops have had
on naive young people ("Filner and colleagues seek shift on medical
marijuana," Nov. 3). Who has he been talking to? Certainly not parents
or school officials who shockingly report the ease at which high
schools students buy pot at illegal storefronts for their bumps and
bruises. It's a concern that Filner has bought, line and sinker, the
pro-pot propaganda over the chorus of concerns that pot use by youths
has increase with their believe that pot is harmless.

Thankfully, members of Congress with degrees in history, like Filner,
are not the ones who determine the effectiveness and safety of drugs.
The Food and Drug Administration and Institute of Medicine are charged
with this responsibility and both found smoked pot didn't meet the
standard for safe or effective medicine for any condition. But
lawmakers and lobbyists for drug legalizes know better, right?

Filner is so out of touch with what our neighborhoods are struggling
with and is clearly listening to the 500-plus pro-pot lobbyists in
Washington, D.C.

Melvin Chang

San Diego