Pubdate: Thu, 21 May 2009 Source: Free Lance-Star, The (VA) Copyright: 2009 The Free Lance-Star Contact: http://fredericksburg.com/flshome Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1065 Author: Daniel B. McElwain Jr. LEGALIZE MARIJUANA? YOU MUST BE HALLUCINATING! This is regarding the May 6 article about California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ["Governor says 'time for debate' on legal marijuana"]. California has a $15 billion deficit, yet that government refuses to raise overall taxes to maintain a deficit-free economy. Drug taxes would never relieve that debt! Has Gov. Schwarzenegger no plan to stop the illegal drugs crossing the Mexican border? Because children would be the first victims, all governors should be firmly against legalizing marijuana. If recreational use of marijuana is approved, students would fall behind in math, science, reading, and writing and quit school, because peer pressure and marijuana use would render teachings of parents, educators, clergy, and society pointless. Marijuana could be grown in almost every backyard and household flowerpot. More marriages of marijuana users would fail because of the mental and moral failures of the partner(s), further destroying the lives of the children. I recommend that the following be implemented everywhere, by September: 1) All teachers must be certified as drug- and alcohol-free. 2) All entrants to school buildings must submit to drug breath tests and inspections, as is done for weapons, using drug-sniffing dogs. 3) Use dogs to sniff lockers, classrooms, offices, shops, halls, and auditoriums. 4) Officials and employees must submit to random drug and alcohol tests, or face arrest, firing, or impeachment, 5) Institute the student honor code for reporting drug use. 6) Educate teachers, parents, and students about the ongoing threat of drug use and what to do about it. Daniel B. McElwain Jr. Culpeper - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom