WHOSE FAMILY VALUES ARE REPRESENTED?

Critics of medical marijuana laws are wrong when they say passing such
laws will "send the wrong message to kids." There is substantial
evidence that medical marijuana laws do not increase teen marijuana
use.

In 1996, California became the first state to pass an effective
medical marijuana law. Since then, teen marijuana use has markedly
declined -- by more than one-third in some age groups, according to
the 2003-04 California Student Survey. Similar results are now being
reported in other states with medical marijuana laws, including Oregon.

Statistics aside, it is absurd to think that children would want to be
as "cool" as dying cancer patients who use marijuana to ease their
pain. In fact, 61 percent of likely Minnesota voters recently told
Zogby International that passing a medical marijuana law would not
send the wrong message to kids.

The idea that seriously ill people should be arrested and imprisoned
for taking their medicine -- now, that's the wrong message to send to
kids.

Krissy Oechslin