cannabisnews.com: Debate on Marijuana is Double-Edged Debate on Marijuana is Double-Edged Posted by CN Staff on January 12, 2003 at 08:03:28 PT Editorial Source: Daily Herald-Tribune Since the Herald-Tribune ran a front-page story and subsequent feature material outlining the proliferation of the illicit street drug known as crystal meth in Grande Prairie, the specifics of the drug itself and the terrible effects it can have on the user and the family, a debate has ensued on the letters section of this page with respect to that drug’s relationship to marijuana use.One letter writer, once a user of many drugs and alcohol, who now - six clean years later – works in drug rehab and counselling – made reference to a “gateway” theory and that reference has touched off a maelstrom of response from across North America seeking to debunk that theory. Essentially, in the context of loosening Canadian marijuana legislation and the potential fallout from that, the theory suggests users of marijuana, for any number of reasons, will almost certainly go on to try harder, more addictive drugs like cocaine, heroine and crystal meth.The basis for this theory varies: Some suggest it has more to do with the crowd and contacts pot users meet in the every day business of getting high that eventually takes them to easier access to harder drugs. Others suggest the high from the marijuana can make users yearn for a different and more powerful high. And there are varying combinations of both.In short, the theory suggests the marijuana user is on an inevitable slippery slope to junkiedom and the best way to stop the abuse of hard drugs is to limit access to soft ones, or at least, raise a public awareness campaign that attempts to ward off young users from ever getting started.This editorial is not to support or dismantle the “gateway” theory: There isn’t enough space and we would certainly be inundated with a raft of letters rehashing the same debate over and over again.But the message could be in the debate itself.Those who believe in freer access to marijuana, who advocate at least its decriminalization, seem to be a loosely affiliated, organized and eloquent bunch that feel compelled to publicly respond to advocates of anti-marijuana policy and/or the “gateway” theory. Letters arrive en masse from across North America, particularly from the United States.It is from those writers that the debate begins to shift and be more about the freedom of choice and the unwillingness to give government more power to protect us from ourselves than it does with the medical and social fallout from drug use.It seems likely that some time this year, laws governing marijuana use in this country will be radically changed. And in this process the debate will certainly continue and predictably, the debate will be divided pro and con, but it will also be divided by two base issues: Whether or not small amounts of marijuana will have a negative effect on our society and its individuals and/or the notion that our Big Brother government knows what’s best for us. Note: Is it about the effects of pot or civil libertarianism?Source: Daily Herald-Tribune (CN AB)Published: January 10, 2002Copyright: 2003 Daily Herald -TribuneWebsite: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/Contact: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/dht_staff.lassoRelated Articles & Web Site:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmPM To Move on Decriminalizing Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15171.shtmlAction Overdue on Pot Lawshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15134.shtmlMomentum Growing for Pot Law Reformhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread15123.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 12, 2003 at 08:41:16 PT Thank You Thomas I got it posted now! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Thomas on January 12, 2003 at 08:05:02 PT Overturned conviction http://www.presstelegram.com/Stories/0,1413,204%257E21474%257E1104653,00.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment