Pubdate: Thu, 18 Jun 2015
Source: News-Review, The (Roseburg, OR)
Copyright: 2015 The News-Review
Contact:  http://www.nrtoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2623
Author: Jim Nikirk

PUTTING OUR CHILDREN AT RISK

How happy are we going to be when marijuana is finally legalized?

First, does anyone really believe that it won't be available to young 
children? If so, they are all wearing blinders. It actually started 
with medical pot as early as 2013.

Since medical marijuana was legalized in Colorado, more than a dozen 
young children have been unintentionally poisoned with the drug. 
About half of the cases are from kids eating pot-laced cookies, 
brownies, candy or even soda.

As reported in The Journal of the American Medical Association 
Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado saw a significant spike in 
the number of children treated for accidentally eating marijuana 
treats after Colorado relaxed their drug laws.

Of course, like just about anything else, follow the money. I have to 
laugh when I read about the states, counties and cities that are all 
trying to figure out how to get their share of the goodies (taxes).

Another item: Since it became legal in Washington State, pot smokers 
arrested for DUII is at a record high. In the first six months, 743 
drivers stopped by police tested positive for THC in their blood. 
More than half of those were over the state's new legal limit. Just 
what we need (as if drunk drivers aren't enough), more "high" drivers 
on the roads. I've always heard that our once-great county is being 
dumbed down (along with our education system), and this is just 
another step in that direction.

Jim Nikirk

Oakland
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom