Pubdate: Mon, 18 Aug 2008
Source: Statesman Journal (Salem, OR)
Copyright: 2008 Statesman Journal
Contact:  http://www.statesmanjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/427
Author: Ellen Pollard

GIVE UP MEDICAL POT AND SAVE KIDS

If you read the Aug. 8 article about Oregon's higher-than-average drug
abuse problem, you know that Oregon is in trouble.

Marion County is among the eight Oregon counties designated as a
"high-intensity drug trafficking area." We have to ask ourselves, "Why?"

Oregon ranks in the top fifth of states for substance abuse among
children 12 and older and adults.

Are our "much-abused" medical marijuana laws sending the message that
marijuana is safe and also good for what ails us? Is the example set
by adults using marijuana as a recreational drug responsible for
contributing to a child developing a lifelong habit of addiction?

Children are influenced not just by their parents, but by other adults
in their lives. Curiosity is the nature of children, and they will
experiment with drugs where they find them.

Oregon's drug problem costs the state nearly $6 billion a year. We
know that drug use is responsible for most property crime and
violence. We can fight crime and violence with drug prevention.

Marijuana is addictive and is the No. 1 gateway drug to substance
abuse of other drugs. Oregon needs to give up its infatuation with
marijuana and save our children and our state.

Ellen Pollard, Salem
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake