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
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MAP posted-by: Elaine