POT BILL WILL LET CHILDREN SMOKE

Instead of milk and cookies, Trenton wants our children to light up a
joint. The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act,
approved by the state Senate Health, Human Services and Senior
Citizens Committee on Dec. 15, is so loosely written that children
will be permitted to smoke dope at the malls provided a parent agrees
and a doctor prescribes it. Indeed, our malls may even house an
approved "alternate treatment center" dispensing rolling paper and
ganja to our kids.

All our children need to smoke the weed is a doctor's prescription
based on a diagnosis of chronic pain as simple as depression,
migraines, arthritis, back pain or fibromyalgia. Heck, anyone can fake
depression or headaches. Parents may even seek out such a diagnosis
for Johnny, as sort of a "get out of jail free" card for their party
animal children.

If you are concerned about the unprecedented drug culture Trenton is
about to foist on the children of this state, call state Sen. Jim
Whelan, D-Atlantic, a co-sponsor of this legislation, and tell him to
tell the governor not to sign the bill if the full Legislature
approves it. Kids need milk - not pot.

John J. Bannan

Egg Harbor Township