MARIJUANA EDUCATION MUST INCLUDE ALL FACTS

To the Editor,

Re: Education crucial aspect of preventing drug abuse, Dec. 6

Too often, drug "education" is little more than propaganda designed to
scare the listener and convince them that fealty and obedience is in
their best interest.

As a federally licensed medical marijuana user, I consider the Drug
Abuse Resistance Education program nothing less than a government
sponsored hate crime.

Teen drug use has quadrupled in the 20-plus years since DARE
started.

It might have something to do with the fact they lie and exaggerate
the so-called dangers of marijuana use, but fail to discuss any of its
proven medical applications, and explain nothing of the dangers of the
prohibition which increases the danger of any drug.

Recent science out of Germany even shows how cannabinoids stimulate
the body's production of TIMP-1, which helps healthy cells resist
cancer invasion.

But I am sure there is no "pot fights cancer" chapter in any of DARE's
teaching. They just keep perpetuating the lies and the
sloganeering.

For those keen on teaching kids about drugs without all the hyperbole,
slogans, bullying and bald-faced lies of what passes for the
"standard" education programs, I recommend the Canadian Students for
Sensible Drug Policy website - www.cssdp-ecprd.ca or the Educators For
Sensible Drug Policy website - www.efsdp.org.

Russell Barth

via e-mail