D.A.R.E. INEFFECTIVE IN ITS PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

Editor:

I'm sure Patti Wise means well - Local teacher honored by D.A.R.E.
program, Nov. 4, - however, nearly every study, including government
studies, shows D.A.R.E. is a failure and may be causing more drug use
than no program at all.

One reason D.A.R.E. fails is because it teaches lies, half truths and
discredited reefer madness propaganda concerning cannabis (marijuana).

Example: when youth find out the relatively safe, God-given plant
(see the first page of the Bible) cannabis is less harmful and
addictive than taught, 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
directly 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, D.A.R.E. 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
D.A.R.E. doesn't teach that.

If people want to donate, they should donate to anti-drug programs
proven to protect youth, not compromise them.

Stan White

Dillon, Colo.