Pubdate: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 Source: Tri-City News (Port Coquitlam, CN BC) Copyright: 2008 Tri-City News Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/3X3xlf9Y Website: http://www.tricitynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1239 Author: C. Taplin CANNABIS COMMENTS CURIOUS The Editor, Re: "Finding a light in the darkness" (The Tri-City News, Wednesday, Oct. 13) I'm a bit suspicious of Margaret Trudeau's new anti-marijuana stance. It seems to have coincided perfectly with Justin Trudeau's entrance into politics. Perhaps she feels that by denouncing her past she paves the way for him to begin his political career sans messy skeletons. While I appreciate her candour in discussing her personal experience with bipolar disorder I find it strange that she doesn't mention the drug most likely to be used to self-medicate, that being alcohol. It is my understanding that she used alcohol quite liberally when younger but focuses on the marijuana element of her past. Cannabis has been tested to help treat certain mental illnesses and found to be very helpful for some people. Many mental health patients find the side effects of prescribed medications quite debilitating and do not wish to have their lives made worse by pharmaceuticals that affect them 24 hours a day. There are people who use marijuana successfully to treat mental illness and are employed, raising children and having loving relationships with friends and family. It is unfortunate that Ms. Trudeau chose to overuse marijuana. Her situation is one of personal perspective, however, and is not necessarily the case for thousands of Canadians who use it medicinally and/or responsibly. In addressing high school-aged kids she made reference to partying with the Rolling Stones and said: "Darn, I wish I would have slept with every single one of them to keep me in memories in my old age?" It sounds like Ms. Trudeau is suggesting to young people that it's better to sleep around than to smoke a little pot. I respectfully disagree. C. Taplin Port Coquitlam - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake