Regarding your thoughtful editorial about marijuana (“Marijuana poses lesser threat than violent theft,” ODE May 12): Actually, marijuana poses less danger than a cup
of coffee.
If we drink 65 cups of coffee in a single day, we have a serious chance of dying as a result. On the other hand, if we smoke the most potent marijuana available in the world, all day long, the worst effect would be a severe case of the munchies.
As for the so-called “gateway effect”: Because marijuana is illegal, it is sold by criminals. These criminals often sell other, more dangerous drugs and often offer free samples of the more dangerous drugs to their marijuana customers. Thus the
gateway effect.
Legalize, regulate, tax and control the sales of marijuana and we close the gateway to hard drugs.
Kirk Muse
Arizona
Inbox: Legalizing marijuana diminishes gateway effect
May 16, 2005
More to Discover
