POT NEEDS QUALITY CONTROL

As a Federal Medical Marijuana License Holder who is also married to
one, I would like to comment on Alison Morris' article, Everyone Is At
Risk For Drug Abuse in the Dec. 28 issue of The Times Review.

Having dozens of things available to do is not always the cure for
boredom. Boredom is not the only reason people take drugs. Some people
take drugs for the same reason other people get into extreme sports
because they can be a lot of fun. Risk is a big part of that fun.

Videogames and TV and assorted technology is far more stimulating that
it was, say 20 years ago. Kids have a higher capacity for boredom
because of the hyperactive culture of drugs and thrills and glamor
that they are trying to live up to. When so much around you is so
exciting, boredom becomes a default position.

Also, junk food will kill many times more Canadians than all illegal
drugs combined. three per cent of Alison's classmates might eventually
develop a problem with drugs, but 40-50 per cent of them will be dead
by age 50 because of obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

Yes, the effects of marijuana and cocaine are going to be different,
but how do you know your dealer isn't selling you something laced
that's going to be a lot more dangerous to you than regular pot? Right
there, that is the biggest risk with pot. Or any drug. No quality control!

Listen, teens, take it from a daily user of medical marijuana; pot is
safe, but the stuff on the street is potentially very dangerous. Not
because of THC potency (THC is a therapeutic agent, not a toxin), but
because of grow chemicals, bug spray, fungicide, moulde, bug feces,
dead bug bodies, and decomposing mycotoxins (dead fungus).

Yuck is right.... Keep in mind though, most food that we eat has trace
amounts of all of those things, so don't freak out. But until
marijuana is properly regulated, it is best to avoid it. Unless, a)
you see the plants being grown before you use the bud, or b) you grow
it yourself to the tightest medical specifics (see google, "organic
cannabis growing").

Also, Canadians of all ages need to know that it is our
counterproductive prohibition laws which have made these drugs so
easily available to kids. Adults have failed to keep drugs away from
kids, and kids away from drugs. Smart kids will join Students For
Sensible Drug Policy www.ssdp.org to help lobby to get dealers out of
schools.

Russell Barth

Patients Against Ignorance and Discrimination on Cannabis

Ottawa, Ont.