A POTHEAD FOR A PARENT

Fern Shen's article "Marijuana, Teen's Anger Tear Md. Family Apart" [Metro,
Dec. 31] left me nonplused.

The article offers a sympathetic view of the excuses of a mother who has
exposed her child to the mother's growing and smoking marijuana in the
family home in complete violation of the law. The actions of the mother were
clearly irresponsible and would seem a form of child abuse or reckless
endangerment.

Shen appears unable to explain the daughter's behavior in turning in her
mother and being apparently reluctant to rejoin the family, offering only
the mother's view that her child was driven by anger over some trivial
event. The daughter was correct and most courageous.

I was left wondering how this article deserved any space in your newspaper.
Where is the news value? By the way, the headline should read: "Marijuana,
Mother's Irresponsibility Tear Md. Family Apart."

- --Robert M. Webb