Pubdate: Tue, 21 Feb 2006
Source: Crowsnest Pass Promoter (CN AB)
Copyright: 2006 Crowsnest Pass Promoter
Contact:  http://www.crowsnestpasspromoter.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/840
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n198/a01.html
Author: Russell Barth

READER DISAGREES WITH 'MARIJUANA PROPAGANDA'

Dear Editor, RE: Daring To Support DARE Program

I applaud anyone's efforts to keep kids from using drugs, but as a 
Federal Medical Marijuana Licence Holder who is also married to one, 
I deeply resent the "all use is abuse" propaganda put forward by the 
RCMP and DARE.

Adults have lost all credibility when it comes to all drugs, because 
we have lied and exaggerated the so-called "dangers" of 
marijuana.  We tell kids that marijuana will cause cancer, 
schizophrenia, impotence, permanent stupidity and an addiction to hard drugs.

When kids find the truth on their own (which is just a Google search 
away), they will realize they have been systematically lied to by 
people they once trusted. They will think; "Adults lied about Santa 
Claus, the Easter Bunny and marijuana, so they must be lying about 
meth, crack, booze, safe-sex and safe-driving, too."

And who can blame them?

We advertise booze, fast cars, fast food, violent movies and video 
games and drugs of all kinds on TV, then tell kids "say no to drugs." 
We give kids Ritalin, instead of reducing their sugar and Game-Boy 
intake, and then tell kids "pot is dangerous!" They see right though 
this hypocrisy.

Taking the marijuana business out of the hands of kids and criminals 
and putting it into the hands of responsible adults is socially conservative.

Generating tax revenue from that industry is fiscally conservative, 
and using that money to teach kids why they should avoid drugs is 
morally conservative. By not legalizing and regulating marijuana 
production and sales, we subsidize criminals, make pot easier for 
kids to access than either tobacco or alcohol, waste valuable police 
resources and billions of dollars annually, deprive ourselves of a 
source of valuable medicine and miss out on $3 billion in annual tax revenue.

For those keen on educating kids about drugs without all the 
fear-mongering, hyperbole, and hypocrisy of the standard "drug 
education" programs, I recommend Educators For Sensible Drug Policy 
website at www.efsdp.org.

Sincerely,

Russell Barth

Federal Medical Marijuana License Holder Ottawa
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom