Pubdate: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC) Copyright: 2002 Asheville Citizen-Times Contact: http://www.citizen-times.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863 Author: Chris Bertrand BLATANT USE OF MARIJUANA NOT ACCEPTABLE IN ASHEVILLE My family and I are fairly new to the Asheville area. We love taking our young children to downtown Asheville on the weekend. Some things my wife and I have noticed have bothered us. We love going to Pritchard Park to hear the locals playing the drums and see people dance. My kids have even participated in the dancing. What is troublesome is the frequent use of marijuana I see. I thought it was illegal, thus against the law to smoke pot. Do my kids have to receive a "contact high" while trying to have fun? What is even more upsetting is I have noticed police patrolling the area on foot to try and "keep the peace." One police officer was within a foot of a couple of people smoking pot and did nothing at all. Either the officer has a serious case of tunnel vision or the officer just does not care. Well, I'm sorry, but I cannot expose my 4- and 2-year-old to that type of behavior. What people want to do in the privacy of their own homes is one thing, but in a public place is another. Chris Bertrand, Asheville - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom