POT A DANGEROUS, MIND-ALTERING DRUG

Editor, The News:

It was heartening to read reporter Cheryl Wierda's recent article ('Pot,
driving, not a great mix either,' A2, Jan. 5).

Plaudits to our great police force for having the will to tackle a very
thankless task, that of dealing with the use of the dangerous,
mind-altering and possibly addictive drug, marijuana.

Driving under the influence of this drug is a criminal act, and should be
treated as such.

In the same edition of the Abbotsford News, reporter Wierda wrote another
article about a large marijuana bust, in which well-known marijuana
advocate Tim Felger states: "I am really concerned with the way things are
going internationally because they are limiting people's rights."

The jury on marijuana's harmful effects is still out. It is a fact that
marijuana can be a "gateway" to hard drugs. In a recent letter to the
editor in your paper, a parent with first-hand knowledge regarding
addictive substance use wrote: "People well versed in treating abuse and
addiction issues specify that it is indeed a "gateway" drug. Some users are
lucky; others not so.

Drug use can and will lead them and their loved ones into a hell deeper
than many of us can imagine.

Parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, please don't believe the myth
that marijuana is not a dangerous, mind-altering, addictive substance. To
date I have not heard of one valid reason for smoking marijuana, except for
medical reasons if prescribed by a medical practitioner.

In thinking back to my younger years in business, we merchandised many
supposedly safe materials such as lead for paint, DDT, nicotine and leaf
arsenate-containing products for insect control, mercury for control of
seed light, plus many others.

There was also powdered asbestos sold over the counter (one of my first
jobs was packaging asbestos powder from 100-pound bags into five and
10-pound packages).

These products have been successfully banned or are tightly controlled, if
used directly by consumers.

Tobacco and alcohol are equally dangerous products, but banning them is not
possible. Is this because of the properties to which some people have
become addicted?

So often the comment is made: "It is my body. I am in control. No one has
the right to tell me how to behave."

If a person becomes addicted to tobacco, alcohol, marijuana or any
mind-altering drug, who or what is in charge? Please protect our children!

Eric Myrholm

Abbotsford