Pubdate: Sat, 30 Jan 2016
Source: Guardian, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2016 The Guardian, Charlottetown Guardian Group Incorporated
Contact:  http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/174
Author: Maureen Coulter
Page: A3

JUST SAY NO

Charlottetown Man Leading a Petition Against the Legalization of Marijuana.

Mitch Reid of Charlottetown is saying no to legalizing marijuana as 
he feels this would lead more people down the path of drug use.

"I'm concerned about the step after smoking weed. For some people, 
they may go down that path and may not get out of it."

Reid has seen his fair share of Islanders struggling with addiction.

Three years ago, he started a group through the Christian Reformed 
Church called Take the First Step to help spread the message of hope 
through Christ to those suffering from addiction and their families.

"When the Liberal government said they are going to legalize 
marijuana, it caused a red flag for me," said Reid. "All the families 
that I've talked to and all the addicts that I've talked to, and try 
to help, said the gateway drug was marijuana."

Reid also expresses his concerns for it falling into the hands of 
young people as he feels it will be more readily accessible to them.

Reid wrote to The Guardian in a letter to the editor Jan. 19 calling 
for Islanders to sign the petition and has since received a lot of 
online backlash over his concerns of legalizing marijuana.

"I know it's quite the topic and I've been verbally abused a number 
of times over it, but there is a lot of support, too," said Reid. 
"They don't see the picture that I see. The picture I see is the 
addicts that have suffered through this all. That is who we are 
trying to help. "

Reid will be foot-soldiering in Charlottetown today from 11 a.m. to 4 
p.m. on Kent Street and University Avenue.

He will be sharing information to people regarding the negatives of 
legalizing marijuana and asking for signatures.

"Everybody has their opinions about it," said Reid. "You can talk to 
10 people and there would be 10 different answers about the topic, 
but I would love to share about what I think about it all."

Reid has several hundred signatures on his petition so far and hopes 
to get over a thousand before bringing it forward to Charlottetown MP 
Sean Casey. To sign Reid's online petition, visit change.org.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom