MARIJUANA IS ADDICTIVE

To the Editor:

A month ago an article I wrote in the News was criticized by a
gentleman from Texas who apparently claims he is a former police
officer and involved in an organization called Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition. He challenged a section in my article where I included
marijuana with other drugs that I claimed were addictive and deadly. I
had to find out who could have made such a statement. The gentleman
from Texas was part of a group that wants to legalize marijuana. He
has made a website using the good name of Law Enforcement to promote
marijuana legalization. Additionally he has been featured on the NORML
(National Organization Regulation of Marijuana Laws) website.

I viewed his web site and checked his links. He refers to studies made
in 1973, that's 32 years ago. We as a society have to be very careful
who to believe. Not only is marijuana addictive, but it is a major
gateway drug especially to cocaine abuse. It can be the cause of heart
disease, lung disease and several other physical and psychological
problems. I have met far too many people through my 20+ year career as
a police officer that have given me first hand information that they
were addicted to the drug and were unable to quit.

Although past information may have implied that marijuana may not be
addictive, recent information disproves this theory. Whether it is
physiological or psychological, the bottom line is: if you cannot
cease the use of marijuana by choice, you are addicted. Why would
there be a Marijuana - Anonymous organization if it was not addictive?
Iif you are interested in viewing information regarding marijuana
dangers and addiction, here are just a few sites to check:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/
www.members.optusnet.com.au/~apfdfy/Effects.html#MARIJUANA%20UPDATE.

Defending marijuana as non harmful drug is wrong. It has been proven
unsafe and that is why it is illegal. Use your common sense, how can
any smoke going into your lungs be good for you, it just doesn't make
sense. Our lungs run on oxygen, not toxic, cancer causing smoke. Sadly
there are people who promote marijuana use purely because of selfish
reasons. If smoking pot is no big deal as some defenders of the drug
claim, how would they feel if they were having open heart surgery and
their doctor was high on it, or if they boarded a plane and the pilot
just smoked pot? Let's be honest.

View the following sites involving my critic
(http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/378/ridesagain.shtml and
http://www.leap.cc ). The only true way to end the drug problem in our
society is to never start. If you are using drugs, do the right thing and
quit. If you can't do it alone, seek help as soon as possible. It's your
life, make it a great one.

Officer Jim Bowen