cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Use Marijuana Use Posted by FoM on December 04, 2000 at 12:15:54 PT By Robert Sharpe Source: Chicago Tribune This is regarding "U.S. drug agency OKs marijuana program" (News, Nov. 24). The plant has been used both medicinally and recreationally for thousands of years. Marijuana is one of the most studied plants around. In 1999, the federally commissioned Institute of Medicine report concluded that there are limited circumstances in which smoking marijuana for medical uses is recommended. The alleged need for further studies is a stalling tactic perpetrated by entrenched interests riding the drug-war gravy train. Not only should medical marijuana be made available to patients in need, but adult recreational use should be regulated as well. The reason for this is simple: Leaving the distribution of popular recreational drugs in the hands of organized crime puts children at great risk. Unlike legitimate businesses that sell liquor, illegal drug dealers working the black market do not check IDs for age, but they do push profitable, addictive drugs like heroin when given the chance. Sensible regulation is desperately needed to undermine the volatile black market and restrict access to drugs. Marijuana is the most popular illicit drug. Compared to legal drugs like alcohol and tobacco, marijuana is relatively harmless. Yet marijuana prohibition is deadly. Although there is nothing inherent in marijuana that compels users to try harder drugs, its black market status puts users in contact with criminals who push them. As counterintuitive as it may seem, replacing marijuana prohibition with regulation would do a better job protecting children from drugs than the failed drug war. As for medical marijuana, doctors should be the ones deciding what is best for their patients, not government bureaucrats. Robert Sharpe, Program officer The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation.TLC - DPFhttp://www.lindesmith.org/Source: Chicago Tribune (IL) Author: Robert Sharpe Published: December 4, 2000Copyright: 2000 Chicago Tribune Company Address: 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4066 Contact: ctc-TribLetter Tribune.com Website: http://www.chicagotribune.com/ Forum: http://www.chicagotribune.com/interact/boards/ Related Articles:Published Articles By Robert Sharpehttp://mapinc.org/find?AK=Sharpe%2C+RobertRather Than Prohibition, Regulate Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7861.shtmlMedical Marijuana Fight Goes to the Supreme Court http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7865.shtmlMedical Pot To Be Studied in 60 Cases http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7744.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by dddd on December 14, 2000 at 14:21:47 PT pros/cons ChritianaHere is an excellent source for a balanced view of marijuanahttp://www.norml.org/facts/myths.shtml http://www.norml.org/facts/myths.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Christiana on December 14, 2000 at 13:51:37 PT: Pros and cons Please send me some pros and cons of smoking mary jane. I need the info for a report. Thank-you [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Phyro_the_Dragon on December 05, 2000 at 10:42:36 PT Abought TIME..... Well like I thought that sooner or later the main strem Press would get the nerve to plead the First . All thoe they took long time ? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by ras james RSIFWH on December 04, 2000 at 15:01:49 PT MARIJUANA COMMON SENSE finally, WGN, the world's greatest newspaper, has taken the lead (amongst major newpapers) in stopping a hypocritical drug war...an evil war that has caused the deaths of tens of thousands of minority youth...and for what? politicians continue to take money from the alcohol-tobacco drug cartels even though over 15,000,000 american citizens have died from the use of these two deadly drugs in the last thirty years. at the same time, these same politicians continue to pass laws outlawing cannabis sativa which has never killed anyone in 5,000 years of medical use. the cocaine-heoin drug cartels continue to use the relatively harmless drug, marijuana, to seduce our youth into hard drug use...and into the selling of these hard drugs which is a very deadly business. Glory! Glory! hala-lu-ya! HIS TRUTH, JAH RASTAFARI, is marching on. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: