After reading the Dec. 28 article, “High expectations? Washington weighs marijuana reform,” I felt the need to correct some misinformation provided by opponents of marijuana law reforms. They claim nothing good can come from the legalization and taxation of marijuana. What about the hundreds of billions in tax revenue? Or the billions saved by not arresting and imprisoning harmless and productive citizens?
They claim that legalization would increase traffic accidents and deaths even though there has never been even one death attributed to marijuana. Another claim is the cost of health care will increase. Wrong again: Recently a laboratory hired by the DEA to prove that marijuana causes cancer released results stating that marijuana prevents cancer.
They tout chronic illness, suffering and death … sounds like the same “Reefer Madness” propaganda they spewed out decades ago. None of these claims are true. The facts are, if marijuana were legalized, its users would contribute billions to our tax coffers. There would, in all likelihood, be a decrease in traffic deaths due to people using marijuana instead of alcohol. Tokers generally imbibe at home, not in a bar on the way home. Tokers also treat their families better than drinkers. I would envision a much happier and safer world to live in.
Matt Begley
Everett
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