HAYES' MARIJUANA MESSAGE RINGS TRUE

I applaud Karen Hayes and the Campbellsville/Taylor County Anti-Drug
Coalition for its efforts in alcohol, tobacco and other drug
prevention in the community. Karen's recent article regarding
marijuana was very appropriate. Yes, it is true, a person probably
won't die from smoking a joint. However, marijuana remains a gateway
drug for many of our young people. Teens don't usually begin their
drug use by using cocaine, methamphetamine or ecstasy. Alcohol,
tobacco and marijuana are the drugs of choice for our young people.

Karen is right on when she says that parents can and should influence
their children. Many parents today smoked pot in the 1960s so feel
uncomfortable in discussing the issue with their teen. However, the
marijuana of the 60s is not the marijuana available in 2006. It is
many times more potent and often can be laced with other unknown substances.

In a recent KIP Survey, 77 percent of 12th graders in the 10-county
Lake Cumberland area think that people risk harming themselves by
smoking marijuana regularly, yet 20 percent have smoked marijuana in
the last 30 days. Thirty-five percent of our 12th graders are smoking
cigarettes, and 36 percent are binge drinking.

There are many who would legalize marijuana. But ask yourself these
questions. Would you want to ride in an airplane with a pilot who was
a regular marijuana smoker? Would you want to undergo surgery by a
physician who smoked pot before he came to the hospital? Would you
want your child to have a sixth grade teacher who came to school under
the influence?

The research continues but there are many facts to substantiate the
detrimental effects of marijuana use in our society. Read more at
www.drugabuse.gov

Judy Chandler Wilson, CPP

Adanta Regional Prevention Center

Somerset