DILEMMA OVER DRUG USE

THE ARTICLE ''Father grew cannabis for his son'' (CT, July 27) illustrates
the dilemma faced by parents when their children use drugs and a lack of
understanding of this by Magistrate Maria Doogan. Magistrate Doogan
reprimanded the father for growing cannabis for his son but she needs to
understand why parents might consider this option.

Of course parents don't want their children to use drugs but what are they
to do when, as ACT education surveys show a majority of college age
students, out of peer group pressure or a wish to experiment will use?

How are parents to keep their children as safe and healthy as possible
until they mature out of their drug use, when they know that frequent
involvement with street dealers exposes them to many opportunities to use
other drugs?

The Netherlands has separated the ''hard'' and ''soft'' drug markets and
has less cannabis and hard drug users and substantially less overdose
deaths than does Australia.

Parents by allowing their children to use cannabis grown in their own
backyard are in effect providing a separation from the criminal trade in
the drug. They are also reducing the chances of their children coming into
contact with the criminal justice system.

Magistrate Doogan needs to understand that the present system sometimes
leaves parents with few choices for protecting their children.

M. McConnell, Higgins