Pubdate: Thu, 19 Apr 2012
Source: Journal-Inquirer (Manchester, CT)
Copyright: 2012 Journal-Inquirer
Contact:  http://www.journalinquirer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/220
Author: Joseph H. Brooks

LEGALIZATION AND YOUNG PEOPLE: THEY CAN HANDLE THE MESSAGE

One of the most often stated fear tactics used by the
anti-legalization of, not only recreational marijuana, but palliative
marijuana as well, is "what message are we sending to our youth?"

I prefer to believe that our youth are far more intelligent than folks
such as State Senator Toni Boucher seen to think they are.

Tobacco and alcohol are two of the most dangerous drugs available,
legal and controlled in our society. Yet the great majority of our
young people either does not use those substances or at least do not
abuse them.

We often hear the question asked, why would we add another dangerous
drug to those already problematic in our society? Those that ask this
question appear to ignore the fact they are already here, in
abundance, and that we are adding nothing. Due to the lack of any
governmental control, children of any age, are exposed to the ease
with which they can, and do, buy marijuana. In fact, what message does
it send to our youth, has anyone ever asked them?

What message does legalizing, controlling and medicalizing marijuana
send to our youth that is worse than the fact that current
prescription drugs are responsible for more overdose deaths than
illegal drugs?

What message do politicians, labeling all candidates and the current
President, whomever he or she may be, are unfit to hold that office,
send to our youth?

What message does sending our troops to Afghanistan, to defend and
attempt to create a democratic government, while our troops die, in a
country that produces the worlds largest supply of heroin?

Very important to me, is what message do we send them, when our
educational system is under attack for so many failings? What message
does laying off teachers, on whom we are blaming most of the problems
of our schools, closing schools, under-funding education, suffering
achievement gaps, having a high drop-out rate, while screaming for
reform, send to them?

*Shouldn't we be more concerned about the message that 3 million
reports of abuse or neglect involving 6 million children a year are
made?

*The message that 1,770 children died in 2009 due to abuse or neglect
should be more important than the message that legalization of
marijuana will send.

*The message that 408,425 children are in foster care, should be more
powerful than the message about marijuana.

*The fact that 308,745,538 children have been incarcerated from 1990
to 2010 should concern Sen.T. Boucher much more than the legalization
of medical marijuana.

I have asked the same questions many times and cannot get answers that
tend to agree with one another. What youth are the antis that use them
referring too? What ages do they admanetly think will be adversly
affected? Do they truly believe that every single young person in this
country will run right out and try to buy and use marijuana? Even
though we know that the human brain does not totally stop growing
until humans are twenty-five years old, we still give our youth credit
for being able to make constructive judgment decisions. We allow them
to drive at sixteen, and we give them rifles and send them to war at
eighteen and nineteen.

When will we trust their judgment when it comes to the message that
legalization of medical and recreationel use of marijuana, does not
mean that we endorse or encourage the use or abuse of any substance,
including marijuana?

Will the antis in this country try to tell the attendees at the Summit
of the Americas, who will be discussing the legalization of marijuana,
about the message they will send to our youth? Perhaps Mexico and
other South American countries are tired of the message being sent by
their dead.

I believe that the simplest way to solve the marijuana problem in this
country is to stop calling it an illegal substance and start calling
it a controlled substance.
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MAP posted-by: Matt