Pubdate: Sun, 20 Mar 2005
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Tyson Campbell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor.
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n430/a10.html?36551

DRUG LAWS RAISING ARMY OF LIBERTARIAN CHILDREN

RE: "THE bong show," by Paul Stanway, March 13. There are more people using 
marijuana in Canada today then there ever have been. How can this be when 
prohibition was supposed to save all the children? Tell me why so many 
teenagers in Canada smoke pot. This is the real problem, one prohibition 
cannot address. The developing brains of teenagers should not be subject to 
large amounts of psychoactive substances. These guys are going to be 
looking after you when you are old, remember. The lies and ineptitude of 
police and government to children about drugs destroy their credibility 
with these kids when they become teenagers. This is effectively raising an 
army of libertarians who have no problem with the idea that government 
should not have the right to dictate how you self-medicate. The moral 
condemnation of drugs also exasperates the problem. The Netherlands has 
impressively low teen use rates. Marijuana culture is entrenched in our 
culture. Pushing it further is only going to make its roots grow. Smarten up!

Tyson Campbell

(Stanway's column hit some nerves.) 
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MAP posted-by: Beth