Marijuana is a gateway drug

When I was running for Flathead County commissioner last spring, I mentioned in an interview that I was against the legalization of marijuana. Tim Baldwin wrote a letter to the editor attempting to ridicule my stance. He proceeded to make assumptions, many totally incorrect, about where I stand on that issue and alcohol, which I never even mentioned.

Since then, he has proven to be an ardent supporter of the legalization of marijuana. I recently wrote a letter to the editor in which I asked some specific questions of Baldwin. Instead of answering them, he took great offense that I declared that I couldn’t vote for him based on his stance on only one issue.

In other words, he’s complaining that I’m doing exactly what he did. Contrary to his claim, I did not suggest that he uses marijuana; I specifically asked him if he does. He responded that he doesn’t, and I believe him. He also accuses me of name-calling, but I haven’t called him any name other than Tim Baldwin.

He accuses me of calling myself a model republican. I never said any such thing. Go back and read my articles yourself. On the contrary, if being a model republican requires me to vote blindly for any candidate with an “R” next to his name, then I’m no model republican. I’m not a sheep, and Baldwin isn’t my shepherd.

If being a model republican requires me to accept every plank of the Republican Party platform as the platform changes, then I’m no model. Baldwin, in his most recent letter, seems to indicate that he’ll support the party platform, regardless of how it changes. Maybe I’m misinterpreting his comments, and he’s certainly welcome to clarify.

I don’t want a representative that blindly tows the party line; I want someone who says what they believe before they’re elected, and stands by it afterward, regardless of platform changes. To his credit, Baldwin has indeed stated where he stands on issues, including marijuana. I find his position unacceptable, even if the Republican Party has moved toward the Democratic Party’s stance.

Baldwin says I reject voting for “the lesser of two evils.” Actually, I’ve had to do that on many occasions. But I don’t believe that any candidate should “get a free pass” because they’re less bad than the other candidate. Instead, they should hear how we feel on issues and they should be held accountable.

For me, legalization of drugs is not a secondary issue, it is primary in that it reflects where we are as a society, and where we’re headed. For a lawmaker to state that legalization brings in more tax dollars (I don’t know that Baldwin has said this, but some lawmakers have) perverts the purpose of government. Government doesn’t exist simply to find ways to tax citizens.

The medical marijuana law that was passed several years ago proves that relaxed laws will increase the use of marijuana. Increased use of marijuana will be detrimental to society. Recent studies have proven that use among people who started in their teens irreversibly reduces their IQs. I fear that with more people using the drug there will be more incidences of DUI and accidents, and more stupid people.

Many pot users mention how alcohol use is far more detrimental to society and the associated costs in lives, accidents and rehabilitation are much higher. That’s because alcohol is legal, resulting in higher usage. Legalizing pot will have the same effect. And I think there’s considerable evidence that marijuana is a gateway drug. In fact, I’ll bet that most of us know people who started with pot and moved on to other drugs.

Back to Tim Baldwin, in my last letter, I asked him what other drugs he would support legalizing. Also, are all the additional users entitled to rehab as a part of healthcare? How does he, as a representative, propose that drug rehabilitation will be paid for? Tax increases? With legalization, there will be more drug rehab.

I asked these questions in my last letter and would still like some answers. In closing, I can’t vote for Baldwin simply because I agree with his stance on education. Quite frankly, I’d rather have a child who isn’t quite as well educated and has good character and an IQ that will still allow him to learn.

Doug Adams lives in Whitefish.