Pubdate: Wed, 17 Feb 1999
Source: State Journal-Register (IL)
Copyright: 1999 The State Journal-Register
Contact:  http://www.sj-r.com/
Author: William Crook, Jr

THIS IS PATENTLY FALSE

Dear Editor,

In releasing the administration's $18 billion strategy to fight drugs,
White House drug policy director Barry McCaffrey say he "wants
children to be the focal point for the drive against drugs."

The Feb. 9 Voice section features an advice column in which a reader's
question about marijuana is answered with the following: "Pot's a drug
too, and it can have serious side effects, like causing damage to your
DNA, the genetic material that makes up all your cells.  DNA damage
can lead to cancer and damage to your brain."

This is patently false - a scare story left over from the '60's;
however the column attributes its source as the National Institute on
Drug Abuse. By perpetuating lies about the dangers of marijuana you
make kids skeptical of all warnings about the real damage of drug abuse.

William Crook, Jr
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