LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Marijuana safeguards need to be put in place

1/7/2018

Beginning on Jan. 1, California opened its doors to marijuana dispensaries allowing the sale of pot for recreational use. California spearheaded the move toward legalized medical marijuana 20 years ago.

Currently, more than half of the states allow medical marijuana use, and eight states and the District of Columbia allow recreational use as well. One does not need to be clairvoyant to predict the end of prohibition against marijuana use in the United States.

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A recent Jan. 2 Readers’ Forum contributor encouraged “Ohio’s officials [to] act on pot.” The writer praised the miraculous healing powers of pot. A snake-oil salesman could not have made a better sales pitch hawking this cure-all qualities of marijuana for whatever ails you. Everything from the psychological issues of depression and anxiety to irritable bowel syndrome and the chronic pain of cancer. Simply blow a doobie and you’re healed … hallelujah.

Before we place pot right up there with penicillin and the polio vaccine, let’s look at the big picture. Pot may indeed help people deal with various problems. Even if smoking marijuana only provides a placebo affect, it is still legitimate.

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) is the psychoactive compound found in marijuana that causes the euphoric feeling. The problem with smoking, for recreational or medical use, is lack of control. Marijuana has varying degrees of potency from plant to plant; people self-administer differently as well.

Developing a delivery system, perhaps similar to electronic cigarettes, would give the medical community better control and the ability to document the medical benefits of smoking marijuana. THC could also be extracted from the plant and put in pill form. No legitimate medical professional would prescribe medicine with no control.

DON GOZDOWSKI
Franklin Avenue