Pubdate: Wed, 08 Feb 2012
Source: Goldstream Gazette (Victoria, CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Black Press
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/vvfJCciY
Website: http://www.goldstreamgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1291
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n053/a11.html?1252
Author: Scott Hilderley

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA NOT THE ANSWER FOR CANADA

I've read the article =93Metchosin weighs in on
legalizing pot=94 published on Jan. 18, in the
Gazette and I also recognize that there is a
strong push in this direction being made by a
vocal minority in relation to this subject.

At the risk of lighting the fuse on the powder
keg that this issue has become, I think it's very
important to look at this with our best possible eyes.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but
everyone is not entitled to their own facts.

Marijuana has been proven to have over 400
chemicals, negatively effect the immune system,
the respiratory system, and impair judgement and
co-ordination. Studies are now linking marijuana
use to a variety of mental disorders including
acute toxic psychosis, delusions, panic attacks,
depersonalization and paranoia.

Some figureheads in Metchosin point out in this
article that they had tried marijuana themselves
many years ago, but were careful to remark that
they haven't done so in a long, long time. I
would suggest that the reason for this is that
they recognized it as a poor personal choice, and
opted instead to dedicate themselves to
healthier, smarter choices, which have led them
to achieve the successes that they now enjoy.

Don't we think we owe it to our kids to create a
supportive environment so that they may have the
same opportunity? It's worth noting that the THC
(tetrahydrocannibonol) levels in marijuana have
risen from two to five per cent 20 years or so
ago to their current common levels of more than 20 per cent.

Yes, there is a small percentage of the
population who have been diagnosed with such
terrible debilitating ailments that physicians
have seen fit to prescribe marijuana to help
battle pain or stimulate appetite. But when I've
had discussions with some of them, even they have
said that they do not wish for marijuana to be
legal for any other non-medicinal reason. In
their lives, the use of marijuana is the lesser of two evils.

What about the assertion that legalizing
marijuana would eliminate organized crime? I
would love to subscribe to the notion that
organized crime could be eliminated this simply,
but the truth is that it wouldn't matter.

A great deal of the trafficking done by the
organized crime element takes place with
international partners, and would continue to
thrive regardless of the legal status of marijuana here at home.

And they don't stop with marijuana =AD ecstasy,
cocaine, heroin, meth, and whatever drug is
waiting to be invented in the future. The answer
is not found in legalizing everything.

So what is the answer? Well, if everyone would
devote the same energy toward creating an
environment where our kids can thrive, imagine what the future could hold.

It's not that tough to do, but it can=92t be left
to just a small group of people to champion. The
Search Institute has determined that there are 40
developmental assets that kids need to succeed.

The more of these that a student has, the more
likely they are to succeed in school, take care
of their health, value diversity and exhibit leadership.

Conversely, the fewer assets that a student has,
the more likely they are to take part in risky
behaviour involving drugs, alcohol, violence and sexual activity.

The good news is that there are already groups
within the West Shore working on building these
assets among kids, with the West Shore RCMP
detachment leading the way. Have a look at www.search-institute.org/assets.

=ADCpl. Scott Hilderley is with the RCMP drugs and
organized crime awareness service.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart