Pubdate: Wed, 20 Oct 2010
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Webpage: Copyright: 2010 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n846/a10.html
Author: Lori Hamilton

LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE SHUNNED POT

Re: "Legalize marijuana and cut the crime rate," Oct. 17.

Columnist Maclean Kay writes: "Have I smoked pot? Of course. I defy
you to find someone under 50 who hasn't at least tried it once."

There are plenty of us out here.

I am 50 now and had a great time in student residence back in 1976 --
completely surrounded by people who smoked, grew and sold marijuana.
New in that city, I didn't know another soul who did not indulge. I'd
already made the decision that drugs were illegal for a reason, they
weren't the healthy or smart thing to do and I could have more fun
just being myself instead of surrendering my individuality to a
drug-induced high. And I most certainly would not succumb to peer pressure.

Student residence is a time and a place. It's not the real world. I
moved on.

And judging by the responses to Kay's statement from my under-50
Facebook friends, I was not alone.

Isn't it funny how so often the more conservative among us are
tolerant enough to embrace a wide circle of friends with differing
viewpoints, while some of the supposedly liberal remain ignorant of
others' very existence? It's scary when they're a part of the media.

Lori Hamilton

Cobble Hill
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