PROMOTING POT: HOUSE WANDERS INTO THE WEEDS

THE STATE House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill that would
reduce the penalties on possession of small amounts of marijuana. What
were they smoking?

The idea was to keep kids who harmlessly toke up from being sent to
jail. But kids don't harmlessly toke up.

Contrary to propaganda spread by pro-pot groups, marijuana is
addictive. Partly because of this, it is a gateway drug to more
seriously dangerous narcotics. Tolerance to the effects of marijuana
smoking can build up quickly, and kids who no longer get the high they
once got often will do more pot or upgrade to stronger drugs.

Gov. John Lynch is right that the bill sends entirely the wrong signal
to New Hampshire's youth, and he is right to threaten a veto.

Supporters of the bill say young people shouldn't go to prison for
simply possessing a joint or two. But police say that doesn't happen.
Those kids get fined, and the bigger fish get locked up.

This bill would likely lead to more drug use, and more drug dealing,
and the Senate should kill it at the first opportunity.