LETTER WRITER MISINFORMED ABOUT EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA

Editor, the Tribune:

I was thrilled to see a recent response to my
statements in an April 17 Tribune article! The letter showcased classic
misconceptions about marijuana. Amy Anderson isn't ignorant; she's just
received a lot of misinformation. In fact, marijuana has a tenth the number
of chemicals in a cigarette; besides, the number of chemicals is a horrible
measure for the threat a substance poses. How many chemicals does a protein
bar have?

Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows marijuana's
potential for abuse is on par with caffeine; see
www.drugwarfacts.org/addictiv.htm.
When any drug abuse or dependence occurs, treatment has been proved to
be more effective than incarceration. Even the Center for Policy
Alternatives notes, "A 2003 study found that nonviolent drug offenders
who complete judge-supervised treatment programs are 29 percent less
likely than those who serve prison time to commit crimes again." This
is why drug treatment is one of the chief options for judges under
Proposition 2.

I can't agree more that field-testing for impaired drivers is a
necessity, but even research from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration concludes that "the fact that a drug is illicit does
not necessarily imply that it impairs driving." Epitope Inc. has
gotten Food and Drug Administration approval to manufacture a saliva
test that can detect marijuana for four to 10 hours after use, easily
covering the period of possible intoxication.

Without doubt, those who are too intoxicated to drive, no matter what
the substance, should be taken off the road.

Bailey Hirschburg