After doing independent research on marijuana 15-year-old Saskatchewan Grade 10 student Kieran King told his friends that, in his opinion, marijuana was less harmful than either alcohol or tobacco. Expressing this opinion, unfortunately, put him at odds with his principal-who, King alleges, threatened to call the police if he discussed marijuana again. When King protested, he was suspended from school for three days.

Even more ridiculous than punishing a 15-year-old for voicing such an opinion-one backed up by an avalanche of scientific research and a Canadian Senate Committee-is some of the debate that has erupted in the wake of the incident.

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