Pubdate: Mon, 28 Feb 2005 Source: Daily Free Press (Boston U, MA Edu) Copyright: 2005 Back Bay Publishing, Inc. Contact: http://www.dailyfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/796 Author: Stan White Referrenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n305/a02.html?13970 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) CANNABIS NOT EVIL Nearly every North American study - including government studies - indicate even the revamped model of D.A.R.E. ("Parents Vital In Drug Lessons," Feb. 23, p. 6), is a failure and may be doing more harm than good. D.A.R.E. teaches lies about cannabis claiming medical use of cannabis is a hoax and D.A.R.E. supports caging adult humans for using cannabis. It is commendable to help youth resist drugs, alcohol, cannabis, coffee and cigarettes until they are older and responsible for their choices, but caging responsible adult cannabis users is not the correct way to do it. As an obedient Christian, I resist government teaching my children that the plant cannabis is evil when we are taught God created all the seed bearing plants, saying they are all good on literally the very first page of the Bible. Money used for D.A.R.E. should be applied toward programs that work and have support from citizens. Stan White Dillon, Colo. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom