WEED IS UNIVERSAL, SO WHAT'S THE FUSS?

We all know that crack is bad news but when it comes to marijuana, the
message is less clear. Even though students have had it drilled into
their heads to just say no to all drugs, many don't see pot as
hazardous. Talk about negative side-effects such as memory loss,
depression, increased risk of heart attacks, respiratory illness and
schizophrenia and youth either shrug these problems off or attribute
them to conservative alarmism. Perhaps our attitude to the drug has
become a little too lax.

* Ashley, 18, North Toronto: "I've been smoking for maybe four years.
I'm sure they know but my parents have never said anything about
it.... They know I wouldn't take it too far. I know my own limits and
I don't always get so stoned that I can't function. I still know
what's going on; it's just that everything is more enjoyable and you
appreciate things more. To a certain extent, society would be better
if everyone smoked pot, because everyone would be more chill, be
willing to talk to anyone and not be so agitated."

* Shida, 18, North Toronto: "I've been smoking marijuana for six
years. My parents don't mind. My dad actually smokes. I'm a hippie
child and I like being a hippie child. I know most side effects. Most
of them aren't negative. I think it should be decriminalized. I will
never give up pot, never. I think doing it just adds to your life
experience....I'm not addicted. I stopped for an entire summer. I
don't do any other drugs."

* Jean-Philippe, 19, Broadview Village: "I don't even smoke during
the week. I can't work when I'm high. My parents smoke. My dad will
roll a spliff and, if I'm around, he offers some to me. It's just
part of life, like having a glass of wine at dinner....A lot of what
you learn from the media is blown up. In school, they teach you pot's
bad, it's very dangerous, all these facts that aren't necessarily
true. Yeah, you get the munchies, that's true. I think you become
psychotic if you don't smoke."

* Etienne, 19, Leslieville: "I try not to do it around kids (or) old
people, and try to be respectful of those around me....There's so
many different studies coming out that say pot can fight brain cancer
and that it's good for cancer in general. It can help arthritis and
it can help people with Parkinson's. It can do a bunch of things."

* Robbie, 19, The Junction: "It seems odd that alcohol and tobacco
are legal while marijuana isn't. As long as what you're doing isn't
harming anyone, why should it be against the law?"