DECRIMINALIZATION EQUALS LEGALIZATION TO MANY OF OUR YOUTH:

WATCH BILL C-17 NOW

Editor, The News,

Re: Bill C-17. We should be concerned:

After reading two pro-marijuana letters printed in the Jan. 11 edition of
your paper, I almost fell out of my chair.

Gord McIvor writes in part regarding marijuana "We all know of its medical
properties . . . the harm caused to society by keeping possession of this
herb a criminal offence."

Kirk Muse writes in part: "For the sake of our children, let's legalize all
recreational drugs so they can be regulated, controlled and taxed by our
governments instead of criminals."

This appears to be the creative thinking which is induced by the use of the
harmful drug, marijuana.

Common sense does prevail.

The Abbotsford school trustees received a verbal report from our MP Randy
White at their Jan. 10 meeting.

Some of the points brought to our attention: The proposed federal government
Bill C-17 decriminalization of marijuana impacts the school system more than
any other organization.

Youth will get a discount from adult fines. Decriminalization equals
legalization to many of our youth.

Marijuana is ten times more harmful than tobacco. There has been a great
effort warning the public about the dangers of tobacco, very little about
marijuana."

The Abbotsford school board should be commended and supported for the
positive steps they are taking in ensuring that students in our schools are
protected from drugs.

Parents, are you concerned about Bill C-17? If you are, please write a short
letter (hand written, original letters may receive closer attention) stating
your opinion to The Prime Minister of Canada, Office of the Prime
Minister, Ottawa, Ont. ,K1A 0A2 with a copy to Randy White MP, House of
Commons, Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0A6. These letters are postage free.

Some recent statements made about marijuana are: Cannabis use roughly
doubles the risk of psychiatric illness, risk of mental illness is increased
by the trend in recent years of increasing amounts of THC in the drug. Young
people are starting to use marijuana at an earlier age.

Do we care about our children and youth?

If we do we must support our community leaders.

Eric Myrholm

Abbotsford