Pubdate: Fri, 29 Aug 2014
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Copyright: 2014 The Columbus Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.dispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/93
Author: Taylor Weese
Page: A19

PHYSICIAN SHOULD KEEP FOCUS ON KIDS

In response to last Friday's letter "Smoking pot has ill effects on 
adolescents" from Dr. Peter D. Rogers, I do not disagree that smoking 
marijuana is harmful to adolescents. That is a scientific fact.

What he does with this fact, however, is stretch it into an overly 
broad, sweeping opinion of all marijuana users.

He mentioned that children showing up to his addiction clinic who 
smoked marijuana were doing poorly in school, drifting from their 
families and were unmotivated. That is a clear example of selection 
bias and does nothing to prove causal effects of marijuana smoking.

Of course it is the misguided teens showing up to the clinic. The 
marijuana users who maintain an active, healthy lifestyle and 
continue to excel academically and socially would never appear on 
Rogers' radar screen. In addition, he came to the conclusion that 
because marijuana is bad for children, it should remain illegal for 
adults. This twisted logic holds no water.

I suggest that Rogers no longer can watch R-rated movies, drive a 
vehicle or have a drink at a bar until he changes his views. After 
all, these activities are all detrimental to the development of 
children, so by his logic, they should be banned for all.

TAYLOR WEESE

Dublin
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