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
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake