CHILDREN WILL PAY A HEAVY PRICE

According to recent polls, Proposition 19, the initiative legalizing
marijuana for recreational use, has a chance of passing ("Marijuana
legalization measure gets big lift," Sept. 26).

I would like Chronicle readers to consider the many ramifications of
such a change in our laws. Particularly, please consider the effects
on the rearing of children.

Would you leave your child with a pot-smoking babysitter? I hope
not.

Yet if recreational marijuana use is made legal in this state, parents
or caregivers who smoke pot get a pass. In a custody case, the sober
parent would hold not sway against the pot-smoking one. Visitation
rights would be decided regardless of pot use. Parents who smoke pot,
no matter how heavily, could not be charged with child neglect for it.
In short, the children of California could and would be raised by
using parents and cared for by using caregivers, without any legal
restraint.

There is not one positive reason to legalize recreational marijuana
use, and children will pay a heavy price if we do.

Monika Rothenbuhler, San Francisco