cannabisnews.com: The Real Question: Why Do People Use Drugs? The Real Question: Why Do People Use Drugs? Posted by CN Staff on December 22, 2002 at 23:23:27 PT Letters To The Editor Source: Christian Science Monitor In response to your Dec. 16 Opinion piece "A weed by any other name smells the same": Yes, it would be great if the world offered so many exciting, positive experiences that people didn't feel the need to take drugs such as marijuana to dull their senses and shield them from the stresses of modern life.But, unfortunately, it doesn't. The older generation has its prescription medication, alcohol, and endless TV soap operas. Today, kids smoke joints because it's illegal, it doesn't cause violence as does alcohol, and it doesn't lead to hangovers. If you want a truly effective way to minimize drug usage, focus on why people take them. The common motivating factor is to escape from pain. Relieve the pain, replace it with something more positive and uplifting - like family love; a sense of achievement; a world where trust, honor, and freedom have real meaning - and the battle will be won.A good start might be to eliminate the hypocrisy of having a state-supported tobacco industry and a high-profile, high-profit alcohol industry, while cracking down on an otherwise useful plant like hemp. Christopher Arlaud Ramløse, Denmark In response to "A weed by any other name smells the same": Discourse about marijuana policy far too often relies on rhetoric rather than science.While it's predictable that Jim McDonough, director of the Florida Office of Drug Control, would criticize the recent RAND study discounting marijuana's alleged "gateway" effect, the fact remains that, according to a recent National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, for every 104 Americans who have tried marijuana there is one regular user of cocaine, and less than one of heroin.In addition, according to a study by the Institute of Medicine in 1999, fewer than 1 in 10 marijuana users ever becomes a regular user (compared with 15 percent of alcohol users and a whopping 32 percent of tobacco smokers), and most voluntarily cease their use after 30 years of age. Clearly, for the overwhelming majority of marijuana smokers, pot is a "terminus" rather than a gateway.Perhaps even more important, among the minority of marijuana smokers who do graduate to harder substances, it is marijuana prohibition rather than the use of marijuana itself that often serves as a doorway to the world of hard drugs. The more users become integrated in an environment where, apart from marijuana, hard drugs can also be obtained, the greater the chances they will experiment with harder substances.If Mr. McDonough truly wished to address the association between marijuana and the use of other drugs, he would support policies separating marijuana from the criminal black market. According to a recent Time Magazine/CNN poll, 72 percent of Americans support marijuana decriminalization for responsible adults.Common sense dictates that our leaders begin listening to them, and move toward a policy based on science instead of hyperbole.Paul Armentano Washington Senior Policy AnalystThe National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) FoundationSource: Christian Science Monitor (US)Published: December 23, 2002 EditionCopyright: 2002 The Christian Science Publishing SocietyContact: oped csps.comWebsite: http://www.csmonitor.com/Related Articles & Web Site:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/A Weed By Any Other Name Smells The Same http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14990.shtmlThe New Politics of Pot - Time Magazinehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14574.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by delariand on December 23, 2002 at 17:03:28 PT I second the motion FoM rules, this website changed my life :) When I was younger I felt like there wasn't really anything wrong with pot, now I have proof! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 23, 2002 at 08:47:04 PT Thanks delariand Here is the same article from the Globe and Mail but look how much has been cut out for the Chicago Sun Times.Court Ruling Prompts Pot-Delivery Service: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15020.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by null on December 23, 2002 at 00:16:29 PT gaining attention? howdy delariand,It's also on CNN.com via a link from the main page even! (under the technology heading.) slowly the debate slips into the mainstream.and a big thanks to FOM for all the hard work!! We all love you. :) http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/internet/12/20/canada.marijuana.reut/index.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by delariand on December 22, 2002 at 23:52:03 PT Attention FOM Gotta story for you...http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-pot21.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment