Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer (CN BC) Copyright: 2006 Quesnel Cariboo Observer Contact: http://www.quesnelobserver.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1260 Author: Cyril Tobin Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1386/a04.html ADDICTIVE MARIJUANA JUST ISN'T ANY ORDINARY HERB Editor: Re: Alcohol Abuse More Prevalent Than Pot, Feedback, the Observer, Oct. 15. Arthur Topham's letter pleads for society's tolerance for the "benign" or is it, "innocuous herb marijuana." Tolerance is here. My work as a school administrator tells me very clearly our society tolerates the use of marijuana in our youth. Marijuana is not "benign." Youth wouldn't smoke it if it was benign. It makes youth high, they become impaired. When judgment is impaired by marijuana, youth do stupid things. Can you imagine smoking the high test marijuana that is the norm today and coming back to school to listen to someone like me talk about ancient civilizations or math? My experience tells me kids go to 7-Eleven for a chocolate bar after smoking the "benign" marijuana. Classes and lessons become "innocuous" to the impaired mind. I know for sure during the hours of the day, marijuana use is far more prevalent in our youth than alcohol. We are far too tolerant. If I told a parent their child drank a six pack of beer before breakfast and that I suspect he drinks a six pack before breakfast every day the parent would become unglued. They would find some way to help their child. On the other hand, we have students who smoke marijuana every day. They are commonly known as "potheads." Potheads just don't generate the same level of concern in our community. It is OK to be a pothead. Who wants to be in a classroom with a student stoned on pot? Who wants to work equipment and machinery with a fellow worker who has just finished "blowing his mind" as Topham capably remembered? Why should this be tolerated? In the real world of work and school, pot is far more prevalent than alcohol. Marijuana is not the benign, innocuous substance that you remember (memory loss issue). Youth and adults become impaired when smoking pot. Employers, fellow employees, teachers, fellow students should be able to work in drug-free environments. Drug tests are just one of the strategies employed to make this a reality. Cyril Tobin Quesnel - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine