Pubdate: Sat, 24 Jul 2004 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Russell Barth Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor. Note: Headline by newshawk. Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) THC DANGER A LIE KIDS DON'T BUY The media is hyping the StatsCan report about kids using marijuana. Everyone is worried about the supposed "dangers" of cannabis use, and allegations that it is "more potent" than it used to be in the '60s. "More THC means more danger" is a lie kids just don't buy. Where are the facts on this supposed danger? Where are the studies, and the reports, and the hard scientific evidence that pot is so "dangerous"? Just because the police or government says something, doesn't make it true. There is plenty of hard scientific evidence to show that cannabis is a good non-addictive and non-toxic medicine for people with AIDS, epilepsy, glaucoma, depression, arthritis, asthma, fibromyalgia, MS, and chronic pain. So how can it be "dangerous" for teens? Kids know they have been lied to about the so-called "dangers." Obviously, kids are using pot because prohibition is a joke. They know that they can't believe anything our government and police say about pot any more. Under this prohibition fiasco, kids just buy pot at schoolyards and playgrounds, unlike alcohol and tobacco which require a valid ID. We have a much better chance of controlling teen cannabis consumption by regulating it like we do alcohol and tobacco. It won't be perfect, but it would be a lot better, and a hell of a lot cheaper. Legalize it, regulate it and tax it. Then we can afford to fix our health care mess. Russell Barth (Marijuana may be harmless to some, but that doesn't mean it's harmless to everyone) - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake