Pubdate: Sat, 18 Jan 2014
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2014 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37
Author: Celie Hanauer
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n043/a01.html

MARIJUANA IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO KIDS

Bravo to Mike Gimbel for his recent letter against legalizing 
marijuana in Maryland ("Say no to legalized pot," Jan. 11).

I have worked in the health care and social services field for the 
past 14 years, and he is spot on. Many adults who smoke pot started 
as teens or younger, and the pot wreaks havoc on their developmental 
stages and mind/ body changes through their teens and into their 20s.

Pot smoking accounts for their lack of initiative, lethargy and in 
some, progression to other drugs or alcohol. Yet many "experts" cite 
research studies that pot smoking is harmless or less harmful than 
alcohol and cigarettes.

The same battle applies to alcohol use in colleges. I still don't 
understand why parents across the country haven't mounted a vigorous 
battle against the colleges. A difference could be made if people 
didn't shrug it off.

Just attend an Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or National 
Alliance on Mental Illness meeting and look into the eyes of so many 
of our youth who have gotten caught in the drug and alcohol rites. It 
is heartbreaking to see the fear and disillusionment - that they 
might never have a future and we, the adults, were supposed to have 
kept them safe.

Celie Hanauer, Abingdon
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom