Pubdate: Thu, 26 Sep 2002
Source: Times-News, The (ID)
Copyright: 2002 Magic Valley Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.magicvalley.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/595
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

SMOKING GRASS ISN'T AS GROOVY AS SOME THINK

It's green, it's illegal, and lots of people in this country regard it as 
harmless. But the truth about marijuana use doesn't smell as sweet as some 
people believe.

For years now, pro-pot forces have gotten all lit up about marijuana laws 
and how they do more harm than good. They scoff at the war on drugs as a 
failure -- or worse, as counterproductive. They argue that prisons and 
jails are crowded with prisoners whose sole crime is smoking grass. They 
compare marijuana with other illicit drugs, and claim reefer is a painless 
and innocuous drug compared with crack, heroin, Ecstasy or even alcohol and 
tobacco.

The facts on marijuana, however, prove the drug has far more dangerous 
effects than some people admit.

John Walters, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in 
Washington, last week announced a new effort to "correct the ignorance 
(about marijuana use) that is the single biggest obstacle to protecting our 
kids."

Walters told parents that marijuana is the most addictive drug among teens 
today. More teens enter rehab centers for marijuana addiction than alcohol 
or all other illegal drugs combined, Walters said.

U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona also squashed another myth about 
smoking weed. The misconception that marijuana is less dangerous than 
cigarettes is false, he said. Marijuana contains three to five times more 
tar and carbon monoxide than a comparable amount of tobacco. Carmona also 
said pot affects the brain in ways similar to cocaine and heroin.

Carmona said one out of five eighth-graders has tried marijuana, twice as 
many as those who had tried it a decade ago.

The pro-marijuana arguments should be of concern locally too. A recent teen 
assets survey conducted among 14,000 teen-agers by HealthNet, a consortium 
that includes the College of Southern Idaho, area hospitals and public 
agencies, found 18 percent of kids in the region said they had smoked 
marijuana in the past year.

In Blaine County, the number was 24 percent, one-quarter of the teen 
population. Blaine County is arguably the most socially liberal county in 
Idaho, so perhaps the numbers shouldn't be surprising -- despite the 
obvious danger the trend represents to Blaine County youth.

But would it be too much for local political leaders to focus on this real 
problem rather than battling over wolves and ranchers?

Magic Valley communities should be just as concerned as national officials 
in getting the word out about marijuana. Unfortunately there are local 
critics who continue to wail that marijuana laws are senseless -- 
especially after a Twin Falls elementary principal resigned following 
marijuana possession charges.

It's time these folks got their heads out of the cloud of smoke. Marijuana 
isn't about earthy goodness and humming "Puff the Magic Dragon." It's an 
addictive drug and a threshold drug that leads users to other illicit 
substances and greater addictions.

Until Americans start taking this jolly green giant seriously, marijuana 
will wreak more havoc on our communities, our families and especially our kids.
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MAP posted-by: Tom