Here it is...
October 31, 2012
Dear Mr. *******,
Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding the legalization of marijuana. I appreciate your interest in the issues facing our country and state, and I am glad for the opportunity to respond to your inquiry. By contacting me on issues important to you, I am better able to represent Utah in Congress.
I do not support the legalization of marijuana, which is the most frequently used illegal drug in the U.S. Although the rates of marijuana smoking in adults have remained stable since the 1990s, recent government studies show the rates of addiction to marijuana have increased significantly over this period of time. Studies supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found 11 percent of eighth graders, 24 percent of 10th graders and 33 percent of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the past year. This is very concerning to me.
Even at lower doses marijuana use can result in a distorted sense of time, paranoia, short-term memory loss, and anxiety and depression. Although some proponents of marijuana use claim that it is not addictive, experts say that marijuana is both psychologically and physically addictive. Individuals who regularly abuse marijuana may experience the same problems as tobacco smokers including cough, phlegm, chronic bronchitis, and frequent chest colds, and usage also increases risk of cancer of the head, neck, lungs, and respiratory tract.
Again, thank you for sharing your concerns with me. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact my office.
Sincerely,
JIM MATHESON
Member of Congress
