HARM EXAGGERATED

I'm writing about Sandra S. Bennett's Nov. 7 local view, "Potent pot just
one reason legalization unwise." Marijuana is relatively safe in that it
has never caused a documented death from its use. However, marijuana
criminalization is dangerous. Dangerous because marijuana is sold only by
criminals. Criminals who often sell other, much more dangerous drugs, and
who offer free samples to their marijuana customers.

Thus the gateway effect to hard drugs is caused by marijuana
criminalization not marijuana itself.

When people like Bennett grossly exaggerate the harms and dangers of
marijuana, this is dangerous. Dangerous because when children find out that
they have been lied to about pot, they make the logical assumption that
they are probably being lied to about the dangers of other drugs like
methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine. This is a recipe for disaster.

Kirk Muse, Mesa Ariz.