Marijuana.com

Plainsman1963

Marijuana is a bigger problem than some think
08-13-06 | CKNJ.Com | Karen Hayes

With all the news about the devastating effects of drugs such as ecstasy, heroin and cocaine, it's easy to understand why some kids and even parents believe that marijuana is harmless.

I have seen the destructive effects of marijuana on the lives of young people. Marijuana use by teens can lead to a host of health, social, learning and behavioral problems. Parents must take action to help decrease marijuana use by kids in our community.

Many parents and adults, based on their own experiences with the drug, still believe that marijuana is benign and not as serious as other drugs such as ecstasy. Some adults may feel there is nothing they can do to stop their kids from experimenting. Research shows that parents are the most powerful influence on children when it comes to drugs.

It's time to send a "wake-up call" to parents about marijuana. We need to give parents the facts about the risks of marijuana use and educate them about the things they can say and do to prevent their kids from using the drug. For more information on how to talk to your children about marijuana, contact the Campbellsville Taylor County Anti-Drug Coalition at 789-1925, the Central Kentucky Agency for Substance Policy Local Board at 465-9945 or visit Parents. The Anti-Drug.. Young people deserve to know that marijuana is a serious drug with serious consequences. Help us tell them.

Karen Hayes
Campbellsville Taylor County Anti-Drug Coalition co-chair
Central Kentucky ASAP Local Board Coordinator
Campbellsville

False claims and outright perjury
CKNJ.Com

Unmentioned in the letter "Marijuana is a Bigger Problem than Some Think" was my reference to the destructive effects of marijuana prohibition; increased potency and availability of illicit drugs, along with windfall pay and profits for gun toting thugs on both sides of the law.

Certainly, the neuroprotective, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial and palliative effects of pot's active ingredients are not in dispute. Yet no one reasonably prescribed armed home invasions, asset forfeiture and prison time as "treatment" for beer drinkers and cigarette smokers. Indeed, transcripts from Congressional testimony to date on the comparative safety and efficacy of marijuana consistently include false claims and outright perjury.

The real problem to solve is: Why should Americans accept a war waged on us?

Jose Melendez
Communications Director
Concerned Citizens Coalition to Criminalize Prohibition
DeLand, Fla.

Why leave marijuana unregulated?
CKNJ.Com

I'm puzzled by a recent letter from Karen Hayes, Campbellsville Taylor County Anti-Drug Coalition co-chair and Central Kentucky ASAP Local Board coordinator, (Marijuana is a Bigger Problem Than Some Think, Aug. 13).

If marijuana use by teenagers is as dangerous as she alleges - and I'm not saying otherwise - why does she want to leave its manufacture, distribution and sales in the hands of criminal gangs?

By any objective measure, alcohol and tobacco are the two most dangerous drugs in our society. Combined they kill more than 500,000 Americans every single year. We don't cede control over those dangerous drugs to criminals. Instead, we demand they be distributed only by licensed, legitimate businesses that check ID. Why does Ms. Hayes want to leave marijuana completely unregulated, untaxed and uncontrolled?

Tell me again, just how is that supposed to keep children safe?

'Cause it sure isn't working so far.

Regulate, tax, control. There is a better way.


Greg Francisco
Educators for Sensible Drug Policies
Paw Paw, Mich.

Is marijuana safer than cigarettes?
CKNJ.Com

The things Karen Hayes of the Anti-Drug Coalition says about the dangers of marijuana are not true. They do a good job of keeping people afraid of pot, but they are false. Yes, some people will not tolerate the effects of cannabis well, but most people do. The truth is, cannabis is safer than cigarettes or alcohol, and no one should be caged for choosing the safest alternative.

We parents would be glad to teach our children about the harmful substances they will encounter, but we must have honest information before we can. After spending seven years researching cannabis prohibition, I do not appreciate the fact that we are paying $23 million a day to educate falsely and punish millions who have no victims.

If you really want to help kids save their brains from destruction, please focus on activities that will actually harm them, such as inhaling household chemicals. I believe we can tell the truth and still teach them how to say no.

Melanie Marshall
Bellevue, Neb.

 

Buzzby

I find it very interesting that not one of the four published responses to the anti-marijuana editorial came from Kentucky, the publishing periodical's origin. The letters were from Arizona, Michigan, Florida, and Nebraska. It tells me that people are searching the news on a national basis in order to support legalization. I hope our readers are doing the same. We should never leave the lies about marijuana unchallenged.

__________________

Plainsman1963

I found that fact interesting as well.

Of course, we don't know what letters they received that they didn't publish. Could have been local, I guess.

As long as the fallacies that keep being trotted out concerning cannabis are challanged, I will keep having faith that the open minded readers will be able to judge for themselves who is fear mongering, and who is actually trying to be factual concerning this subject.

Challenge the prohibitionists. Everytime they speak this ilk they are so intent on shoving down our throats.

__________________


"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." - Claire Wolfe

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Plainsman1963

Cannibis less a problem than people think
08-23-06 | CKNJ.Com

Karen Hayes (Letter: "Marijuana is a bigger problem than some think" Aug. 13, 2006), does a disservice to responsible adults who wish to use cannabis (marijuana) instead of alcohol. It does a disservice to truth and rational thinking. And a disservice to Christ God Our Father who indicated he created all the seed-bearing plants saying they are all good on literally the very first page of the Bible (see Genesis 1:11-12 and 29-30).

It is commendable helping youth resist cannabis, drugs, cigarettes, alcohol, sex and coffee until they are older and responsible for themselves, but caging adults for using cannabis is the wrong way to do it.

While cannabis has never led to overdose and is less addictive than coffee and less intoxicating than alcohol, many citizens believe cannabis is less of a problem that some people think. Fact is, the worst consequence for cannabis is being put in a cage for using it.

Stan White

Dillon, Colo.

Buzzby

I really wish pro-legalization people would stop using this easily invalidated argument. If you have a big bowl of deadly nightshade for breakfast you would be seeing Christ God Our Father somewhat sooner than you might expect.

 

Jose Melendez

Re: Many, perhaps all plant based drugs have effective uses far below their lethal dose. With regard to my letter published above, the editor later conceded that errors were introduced into the print version that did not exist in the original, below: