Pubdate: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 Source: Burnaby Now, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.burnabynow.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1592 Author: John Gordon OK TO START POT AT 16 Editor, In your Sunday, Sept. 15 editorial, 'Pot debate misses mark,' it should be noted that the senators themselves suggested 16 as a starting point in the debate. Clearly, it has agitated public opinion more than other recommendations in their report. The average age of introduction to cannabis is 15 and use is highest in ages 16 to 24. The committee's report accepts reality. Your concern about youths mixing cannabis with school is a scenario already happening, for which the senators describe as heavy or excessive use, meriting interdiction. Society accepts 16 as the driving age, where young people are deemed responsible for making decisions that can be life-threatening, e.g., turn left in front of the fast-approaching big truck. In comparison, choosing to use cannabis, in moderation, in the appropriate time and setting, is minor. At 16, people can be responsible enough to not use it when driving, at school or work or any other socially inappropriate time. If the age of cannabis consent finally settles at 18, and the average age of introduction remains the same, for three years the young people have been obtaining their cannabis from sources outside of the regulated market, exposing them to cannabis that hasn't been government-inspected, nor limits the sale to only cannabis. Dealers offering cannabis to the pre-of-age teens may offer an enticing assortment of harder drugs, like alcohol or cocaine. It is better to accept a certain reality that some 16-year-olds will seek cannabis and have them go through regulated channels. In Sweden and native reservations where cannabis is prohibited, curious teens opt for solvents or alcohol. David Malmo Levine even credits cannabis as preventing his teenage suicide. The senators aimed at rigour and transparency, succeeding admirably. John Gordon Vancouver - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens