Are California voters right?

Yes by Hilary Strickland

The war on drugs has a new opponent this fall: registered voters.

Marijuana, when prescribed by a doctor, is perfectly legal in California. This fall, six other states - including the District of Columbia - have a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Being diagnosed with AIDS is a devastating reality for many Americans, and to know there is a substance available to them that will ease their suffering but is legally out of reach must be devastating as well. The alternative to medical marijuana would be to grin and bear it or to have a few dozen drinks to dull the pain.

Allowing AIDS and cancer patients to get high to ease their suffering sounds like a no brainer to me. I voted to pass the initiative when the chance came my way and I am glad to see that the idea is catching on in other states, too.

The fact that marijuana is beneficial in so many other ways is being overshadowed by the anti-drug cheerleaders.

How interesting it is that two other popular drugs, alcohol and tobacco, are perfectly legal and perfectly addictive while marijuana is not legal and not nearly as addictive or as detrimental to the body.

Marijuana use for the sick and suffering dulls their pain while being less addictive than other pain killers that are being prescribed. Marijuana stimulates the appetite, an added bonus for those being ravaged by treatments that leave them without an appetite.

If marijuana is so bad, then scientists should put their big brains together to come up with an alternative. They haven't, which leaves me to believe that there is not an alternative.

The initiative should pass in other jurisdictions and should grow like a weed from there.

No by Stacey DeFever

Marijuana should absolutely not be legalized in any form in America. Although a user may not notice it at first, pot kills brain cells, affects memory, increases anxiety and decreases one's attention span. It is also a huge waste of money.

In addition, there is no way to know for sure if what one buys is pure, clean and unlaced ganja. These reasons alone should be enough to outlaw marijuana in America.

Even more dangerous is the fact that marijuana often plays the role of a gateway drug.

Many individuals experiment with the substance with no intentions of ever trying more dangerous drugs, but in many cases they are sucked into a world of illegal substances.

Many people smoke the drug often, even daily, not realizing the long-term effects.

Marijuana in its subliminal nature may slowly deteriorate one's lifestyle.

Money used to buy the drug could be used to pay one's bills, go out to dinner, go shopping or buy luxury items.

The time spent coming down from being high is time that can be used for studying, working or spending time with one's friends and family.

Medical reasons alone are not enough to legalize marijuana.

There are other ways to treat AIDS and cancer patients without using a drug with similar long-term effects as heroin, cocaine, alcohol and other drugs.

But if getting fat from satisfying one's "munchies" while being high on dope sounds like fun, then by all means support legalizing marijuana.