ANTI-DRUG PROPAGANDA TEACHES LIES, HALF-TRUTHS

One reason why DARE is a failure (Viewpoint, May 24) is due to
teaching lies, half-truths and propaganda about the relatively safe,
God-given plant cannabis.

How many citizens try cannabis and realize it's not nearly as harmful
as taught in DARE-type government environments? Then they think other
substances must not be so bad either, only to become addicted to
deadly drugs. The old lessons make cannabis out to be among the worst
substances in the world, even though it's less addictive than coffee
and never killed a single person.

Government even classifies cannabis as a Schedule I substance along
with heroin, while methamphetamine and cocaine are only Schedule II
substances. For the health and welfare of America's children and
adults, that dangerous and irresponsible message absolutely must change.

Further, DARE instructors teach that cannabis is bad and should be
prohibited, yet unregulated sales of cannabis force buyers into
contact with people who often sell hard drugs, which increases addiction rates.

Re-legalizing cannabis would lower deadly hard drug addiction. But
DARE doesn't teach that.

Stan White

Dillon, Colo.