Pubdate: Fri, 16 Oct 2015 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Contact: http://www.calgaryherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Diane Graham Page: A22 ADDICTION NIGHTMARE Re: "Harper is just blowing smoke on pot use," Rob Breakenridge, Opinion, Oct. 6. Addiction has harmful effects beyond the single user. Legalizing marijuana would only exacerbate this growing problem. I believe that marijuana is significantly worse than tobacco because of the devastation this drug causes individuals, families and communities. As a mother of a teenage son who became addicted to marijuana, my world was shattered. Harmless experimenting soon became allconsuming. It developed into an addiction that required long-term drug treatment. In comparison to the costs associated with smoking, what about the costs of my sleepless nights, days off work to attend legal appointments and many hours spent looking for help through the health-care system only to be told he would grow out of this phase? Legalization of marijuana ignores the growing reality that this drug is not the benign recreational substance that its proponents claim, particularly to adolescents. We need to put resources where they are desperately needed - into addiction treatment. Diane Graham, Calgary - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom