Pubdate: Tue, 18 Dec 2007
Source: Portage la Prairie Daily Graphic (CN MB)
Copyright: 2007 Portage la Prairie Daily Graphic
Contact:  http://www.portagedailygraphic.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1993
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n1434/a06.html
Author: Russell Barth

MARIJUANA IS A HEALTH ISSUE, NOT A CRIMINAL ONE

Re: Students Learn Drug Lesson, Dec. 11

As a federal medical marijuana licence holder who is also married to 
one, I deeply resent this policy.

Drug use is a health issue, and we should have nurses instructing 
kids about them, not cops. Sending in a cop to talk to kids about 
drugs is like sending in a priest to teach them about sex; "Just 
don't do it, mister, or you'll be in big trouble." Especially the 
notoriously dishonest RCMP!

Also, the fact taxpayers' dollars are used for this fear and fealty 
campaign is sick and reprehensible in the extreme. It should be 
illegal to go into schools and deliberately frighten and mislead 
kids, but no, we use taxpayers' dollars to send cops in to do it. It 
isn't just irresponsible; it is obscene.

These drug "education" programs use non-factual information; they 
foster resentment towards drug users; they monger fear and spin 
things with balderdash. They downplay marijuana's well-documented 
medicinal values (for example), exaggerate its supposed dangers, and 
put forth debunked and outdated junk science as fact.

Some studies even show that these "scare 'em straight" programs 
increases drug use. Don't believe me? Since DARE started back in the 
1980s, pot use among Canadian teens has quadrupled!

The only good this program has ever done is make millions of kids 
realize that cops are incapable of telling the truth when it comes to 
drugs. As soon as they hear all this "One joint and you are hooked 
for life" reefer madness, they go check the Internet; and realize 
they have been systematically lied to.

In that way, the police completely undermine their own credibility, 
fostering even more resentment towards authority. And that is a good 
thing HOW, exactly?

If only they would temper its "say no or else" message with some 
actual scientific truth, it might be worth saving. As it is, it 
should be outlawed. Beyond that, the RCMP should be disbanded for 
(among other things) continuing to lobby for more drug prohibition.

For those keen on teaching kids about drugs without all the 
hypocritical balderdash of the DARE program, I recommend Educators 
For Sensible Drug Policy, www.efsdp.org.

Russell Barth,

Federal medical marijuana licence holder,

Patients Against Ignorance and Discrimination on Cannabis (PAIDOC) Ottawa
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom