Pubdate: Sun, 22 Apr 2012 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2012 Times Colonist Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Bill Wilson EDUCATION NEEDED ABOUT MARIJUANA Re: "New push to decriminalize pot," April 15. Why are our Vancouver Island politicians as well as the NDP and the federal Liberals in support of legalizing marijuana when we know that smoking it is many times more carcinogenic than tobacco? Are our social and personal costs associated with tobacco use not staggering enough? The marijuana being used now is 10 times more potent than it was years ago. Do any of us feel good about meeting a person on the road who is driving stoned on pot? I sure don't. How many fatal accidents are now caused by pot use? How would we justify to our children that our government decided to legalize a noxious substance to make more tax revenue? Some parents have failed to adequately warn their children about the dangers associated with using marijuana. What governments need to do is to start ad campaigns which state clearly the substantial harm pot is causing in society, not condone its use. Bill Wilson Saanichton - --- MAP posted-by: Matt