MIXED MESSAGES ON DRUG USE

On the fence of Whitehead Elementary School is a sign: "United we
stand for a drug free land. Celebrate red ribbon week." If the
proposition on the ballot in November to legalize marijuana is passed,
what will be the new message we will be sending our children? The
message is of course that we are not really serious about our children
remaining drug free.

If legalizing drugs passes, what will Whitehead teachers be able to
say next year? At best, "Stay off drugs only until you are 18." Even
for students who do not know the word hypocrite, with marijuana
legalized, we will never be able to teach refraining from drug use
without our children laughing at us.

LARRY SCHAPIRO, Woodland