Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jun 2016 Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON) Page: A10 Copyright: 2016 Metroland Media Group Ltd. Contact: http://www.therecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n410/a09.html Author: Carol Mary Awrey MARIJUANA USE CARRIES A COSTLY TOLL Re: It's time to legalize marijuana - June 10 While the writer of this letter was smoking marijuana in Amsterdam 46 years ago, I was working on the marijuana issue in Guelph. I was very concerned about drug addiction and the results to one's health and welfare. I opened a post office box in Guelph and published notices in the local and out-of-town newspapers wanting to know if anyone could inform me of any family sufferings endured because of marijuana use. I received over 300 letters from grieving families: Everything from users becoming prostitutes, to dying by suicide, to advancing to harder drugs more harmful to their health. Some robbed to get money to purchase what they couldn't afford, and ended up in jail. I heard of broken marriages and violence against families and children. I took these letters to my MP at the time and asked him to take the letters to Parliament and tell the honourable members that if they voted to decriminalize marijuana it would be on their consciences, not mine. The illusions of grandeur one experiences with the use of marijuana are very different from alcoholic stupor. Perhaps when you reach the age of 81 as I am, a mother and grandmother, and have seen what I have, you will become drug-free. We have MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving - what will we need next? Mothers Against Drug Addiction? Carol Mary Awrey St. Clements - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom