Pubdate: Sat, 21 Aug 2010
Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Abbotsford News
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/BkAJKrUD
Website: http://www.abbynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155
Author: Eric Myrholm
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n635/a03.html?1118

PROTECT YOUTH FROM DANGEROUS MARIJUANA

In his Aug. 12 letter, "Time to decriminalize weed," William Perry 
seems to feel that if the harmful drug marijuana was to be legalized, 
crime would be greatly reduced.

Why am I so concerned about the dangerous drug marijuana?

Members of the Institute for Social Research (ISR) have found 
"Substance abuse is still common at age 35, UM study finds. The odds 
of smoking at the age of 35 were more than 12 times higher for 
participants who used cigarettes during the month prior to their 
twelfth grade survey than for those who had never smoked by their 
senior year. The odds of smoking at age 35 were 42 times higher than 
for those who had never smoked by their senior year. Similar patterns 
were found for the use of marijuana and other illicit drugs. When 
compared to those who had not tried marijuana by the twelfth grade, 
individuals who had tried marijuana by the twelfth grade had eight 
times the odds of using marijuana at age 35."

Should we not support our police in trying to control this harmful 
drug even if it means that some of their actions are similar to our 
American cousins?

Why should the law-abiding public have to accommodate criminals and 
criminal activity?

I would suggest that a way to control criminal drug activity is for 
Canadians to stop buying drugs.

Would this not cancel out the profit motive? No customer, no sale, no profit.

If drugs were to be legalized and in 20 years when they are found to 
be a health hazard, would not the government be held liable?

Think of the harm tobacco has done. Do we want to repeat this catastrophe?

Let's protect our youth.

Eric Myrholm
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart