Pubdate: Sun, 14 Oct 2007
Source: Asbury Park Press (NJ)
Copyright: 2007 Asbury Park Press
Contact:  http://www.app.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/26
Author: Joan Palermo

DON'T IGNORE MARIJUANA USE

I was happy that the PNC Bank Arts Center finally  cracked down on 
teenage drinking and tailgating in the  parking lot before concerts. 
We need to keep enforcing  the laws that were made for everyone's 
safety. Thanks  to all the law enforcement and people at PNC for 
doing the right thing.

However, there is another problem that needs to be  addressed. I 
attended the Allman Brothers Band concert  in July with my 
16-year-old son. We had lawn seats and  ended up standing because we 
were a little late, which  was fine with all the great acoustics and 
big-screen TVs. The security guards were present and kept the  crowd 
in designated areas. I saw the State Police on  the periphery of the 
concert but not in the concert  area. What really surprised me was 
the blatant smoking  of marijuana and the smell wafting through the air.

Last time I checked, marijuana was illegal even for  medicinal use. 
The message being sent to our youth is  very mixed: Alcohol is 
illegal until 21 years old;  marijuana is illegal all the time, but 
it's OK at a  concert.

Both drugs alter your perception and judgment, which  would make 
driving hazardous. If you attended that  concert you would agree we 
do have a problem. We are  just kidding ourselves when we are sending 
our children  the "Just Say No" message to drugs and not following 
through with our obligation to them to enforce it.

Joan Palermo

Ocean Township
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman