Pubdate: Tue, 01 Feb 2011
Source: Gilroy Dispatch, The (CA)
Copyright: 2011 The Gilroy Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.gilroydispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3377
Author: Ron Kirkish

DRUG CULTURE HAVING A SERIOUS IMPACT ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE

Dear Editor,

Santa Clara County Supervisor David Cortese's recent State of the 
County message shows that our kids are seriously and negatively 
impacted by today's drug culture, even though he did not state this 
in his message. His mention of drop-out rates, juvenile hall 
populations, and public health concerns undeniably speak to the abuse 
of drugs by our teens.

I hope we can all agree that the only way to turn this around is to 
do whatever it takes to change this culture. When making decisions 
from the dais, whether at San Jose City Hall or any other city hall, 
I hope that our elected leaders would weigh the impact of decisions 
on the health and welfare of our children and their futures.

Allowing drug dispensaries - (from recent busts in San Jose at 
marijuana dispensaries there, we should understand that marijuana is 
not the only illegal substance being sold and purchased at these 
businesses) - is in no way, shape or form beneficial for our youth. 
It is clear that it is just the opposite. The only way to reverse the 
trend is to completely close and ban these dispensaries, and send a 
strong signal to our kids that marijuana (and other drugs of abuse, 
both legal and illegal) are not medicine but instead, a very 
dangerous drug that must be avoided.

Ron Kirkish, Gilroy, Program coordinator for northern region, 
Californians for Drug Free Youth
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom