Pubdate: Sun, 15 Aug 2010
Source: Reporter, The (Vacaville, CA)
Copyright: 2010 The Reporter
Contact:  http://www.thereporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/472
Author: Lauren Forcella

DAD'S POT HABIT RILES DAUGHTER

Dear Straight Talk: My dad has been smoking pot since he was 25. He is 
now 50. I first caught him smoking it outside last Christmas, but he 
usually smokes in his bathroom. We had huge family fights over it and my 
mom almost left him, but since it was Christmas we decided to deal with 
it later and it never arose again. He hasn't stopped and my sister has 
her own problems. Do you have any pointers on why pot is bad for you? He 
thinks it's natural. He will smoke sometimes and then drive me places, 
but shouldn't you wait six hours? It's just so wrong. I don't want to 
grow up like him or my sister.

- -- Jessica

Lennon, 23, Fair Oaks: I hardly ever smoke, but pot is like alcohol in 
that there's a difference between having a glass of wine and draining 
two bottles. If your dad is so stoned he can't get off the sofa, there's 
a problem. But if he only smokes every few days, I wouldn't worry. 
However, he should do what his family wants, including giving up weed. 
He's the role model.

Katrina, 17, Sand Springs, Okla.: I know many teens and adults who
smoke weed. I compare it to cigarettes, yet they're legal. But parents
have responsibilities. If this throws your family off, he should stop.

Gregg, 19, Sacramento: I know a couple of moms and dads who smoke. One 
of the kids is my friend and his mom smokes a bunch of pot. It's very 
surprising.

Beth, 19, Newcastle: I recently found out my dad is doing a lot of 
drugs, and that he's been smoking marijuana awhile. We didn't know until 
he snapped. Now drugs are all he cares about and he's hurting our family 
trying to get them. Your dad may need professional help. I wish mine had 
gotten help before things escalated.

Matt, 17, Villa Park, Calif.: You have control in a few areas: one,
refuse to drive with him under the influence (sure, pot is natural,
but so is opium and you don't drive on it). Two, talk with your mother
about how to deal with this issue.

Charles, 24, Sacramento: I was a college junior when I came home to my 
highly-functional parents smoking a joint in the backyard. They had 
admitted to smoking in younger days, but I didn't realize they still 
smoked occasionally. College opened me to the idea that people can smoke 
weed and be functional, successful and genuinely nice human beings (I 
was very critical in high school and early college). I felt surprise, 
confusion, and then acceptance all in ten minutes. I didn't join them, 
nobody said a word, but since then we've been open about all kinds of 
things, which has been great. To answer your question, inhaling burning 
materials is bad for you. However, if your dad only smokes once or twice 
a week, it's no worse than tobacco. A vaporizer will eliminate most of 
the toxins.

Katelyn, 16, Huntington Beach: If it isn't medical, marijuana is 
illegal. It hurts your family emotionally, legally and financially. 
Educate yourself on the health effects at www.About.com (type 
"marijuana" in the search bar). Get help-advice from the National Drug 
Abuse Helpline: 1-866-874-4553.

Dear Jessica: Many kids are thrown off when they discover a parent 
smokes weed. I have no love for marijuana or lame habits. But unless 
your dad is lost or irresponsible from it (in which case, call the 
Helpline above), his habit is probably on par, health-wise, with 
equivalent alcohol and tobacco use. At your age, your job is not to fix 
your dad. Fix yourself. Stay straight, refuse to ride with him (2-3 
hours is enough time to drive safely), and inform your parents about 
your sister.

For more discussion, to ask a question, or inquire about being a youth
panelist, visit www.straighttalkforteens.com or write POB 963 Fair
Oaks, CA 95628.

Editor's Note: Yes, I did say to tell on the sister. I really do have no 
love for marijuana or lame habits. And the younger you are when you 
start, the worse the potential effects. As I've said before, today's 
weed is 10-25 times stronger than the pot your parents smoked. And your 
parents were typically ages 18-23 when they started, not 13-19. The 
adolescent brain is in a huge growth period and weed can bring out 
negative neurological traits that otherwise would have remained dormant. 
I've seen "just weed" clearly and definitely change young people in a 
negative way. Yet for many other young people, there are no convincing 
negative effects, which is where the confusion lies in thinking weed is 
harmless. If you're a teen and want to do something good for yourself, 
put off experimenting with weed until you're over 21. (Best: don't smoke 
it even then.) And if you're a parent who smokes, quit or cut back to 
the point that you are 100 percent discreet. Your kids!
really do need a role model. --Lauren
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt