Pubdate: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 Source: Alberni Valley Times (CN BC) Copyright: 2012 Alberni Valley Times Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/albernivalleytimes/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4043 Author: Marnie Wynans Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v12/n237/a07.html Note: Title [sic] CONVERAGE SHOULD REMIND READERS WHY POT IS BAD Re: "Pot users not just blowing smoke on Friday's 4/20." (Alberni Valley Times, April 23) I am writing to express my disappointment with your 4/20 cover story. The lack of judgment in running this story on the front page, (or at all) boggles my mind. What kind of message are you trying to send to our young people? My kids read the paper, and they have been taught drugs are bad. Drugs are illegal. But wait, these people smoke it and don't get in trouble, so what's the problem? I feel terrible for our RCMP and all the people, and money invested in the DARE program who spend countless hours educating our kids to stay healthy, and off drugs. After your front page article, that quotes "doesn't everyone do it?" Everything taught to our youngsters has now been compromised. My only hope is that parents will use this opportunity to open the dialogue with their kids, and once again discuss all the reasons marijuana is still illegal and why it is an unhealthy lifestyle choice. Perhaps your next front page article could be a full colour picture of all the kids who just completed the DARE program, and to have some of them remind your readers of all the reasons to stay away from drugs. Marnie Wynans Port Alberni - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom