ADDICTION TO POT VERY REAL

Editor:

Jodie Giesz-Ramsay's letter of July 21 supporting teenage use of
marijuana ignores addiction.

I used pot until seven years ago. I too started enjoying pot,
cigarettes and alcohol at age 14.

I was never a heavy pot user until I started experiencing some
seemingly unrelated work and family difficulties. I took to pot as a
way to escape from my frustrations.

Late nights and some joint-breaks during the day soon started
reflecting on my performance at work.

I was also ignoring family responsibilities. Worse still, I could not
enjoy a party without pot or alcohol.

Addiction sneaked in over a period of two to three years, but I didn't
realize it until a fairly advanced stage.

I lost my job and an opportunity for rapid career advancement. I never
engaged in any crime to support my habits, but I'm not sure if this
would have happened if I did not have a regular income. I cannot blame
pot for my predicaments but I think it contributed to my poor
performance.

I'm not trying to stop any teenager from enjoying a joint but please
watch for signs of addiction.

The choice is yours but be careful you do not follow the footsteps of
an addict.

Andy Maguire

Kamloops