GROWING UP

In a response to the letter "Draconian" (April 7), and the writer's
friend, the 19-year-old marijuana user, what kind of message are we
sending to the youth? The message that if you do something illegal,
there will be consequences for your actions.

The writer's friend knowingly drove his vehicle with illicit drugs in
them. He knows marijuana is illegal, and I'm sure if it was in his
vehicle, he was smoking it. Now it's not just possession, it is
considered driving under the influence. The writer's friend took the
risk, now he must face the consequences and I doubt a slap on the hand
would do it.

Who knows, maybe probation was the best thing to happen to his friend.
As an addiction counselor in Ocala, I see often, in fact 98 percent of
the time, someone listing marijuana (the "minor drug" the writer spoke
of) as their first tried drug before moving on to things like cocaine,
heroin or Oxys.

Maybe probation will help him be rid of his addiction to pot and send
him in a positive direction. Or this could be just the beginning of
his legal career in the system. You never know.

It won't hurt him for the rest of his life, unless he continues the
bad habit. He's only 19. He's just begun learning what being a
responsible adult is all about.

Harsh punishment? I think not. I think the writer's friend is more
upset that he got caught than anything else.

Summer Hudson

OCALA