Pubdate: Sat, 30 May 2009
Source: Maui News, The (HI)
Copyright: 2009 The Maui News
Contact:  http://www.mauinews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2259
Author: Stan White

ANTI-DRUG PROPAGANDA TEACHES LIES, HALF-TRUTHS

One reason why DARE is a failure (Viewpoint, May 24) is due to 
teaching lies, half-truths and propaganda about the relatively safe, 
God-given plant cannabis.

How many citizens try cannabis and realize it's not nearly as harmful 
as taught in DARE-type government environments? Then they think other 
substances must not be so bad either, only to become addicted to 
deadly drugs. The old lessons make cannabis out to be among the worst 
substances in the world, even though it's less addictive than coffee 
and never killed a single person.

Government even classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance along 
with heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are only Schedule II 
substances. For the health and welfare of America's children and 
adults, that dangerous and irresponsible message absolutely must change.

Further, DARE instructors teach that cannabis is bad and should be 
prohibited, yet unregulated sales of cannabis force buyers into 
contact with people who often sell hard drugs, which increases addiction rates.

Re-legalizing cannabis would lower deadly hard drug addiction. But 
DARE doesn't teach that.

Stan White

Dillon, Colo.
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