cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Is a Threat to Our Children





Marijuana Is a Threat to Our Children
Posted by FoM on May 29, 2000 at 10:07:17 PT
Letters To The Editor
Source: Star-Bulletin
I'm concerned about the direction our state is heading. Last session, legislators approved the growing of industrial hemp. This session we approved the concept of medical marijuana. Both bills were strongly opposed by law enforcement agencies. 
The supplemental budget passed with a proviso that no funds should be spent on marijuana eradication; the Hawaii County Council seemed to agree by deferring a decision on whether to accept federal grant money to help conduct police raids on marijuana growers. Are we poised to legalize marijuana? Who is pushing this agenda? Are political contributions involved? These questions must be answered.Marijuana still poses a great threat to our children's safety and well-being: The state Department of Education reports seeing an increase in the number of students who try marijuana before the age of 13. In the 1998-99 school year, 665 cases of possession of marijuana by youngsters were reported to the police. The Department of Health estimates that 16,701 minors are in need of treatment for all types of substance abuse.Unfortunately, this new permissiveness is accompanied by an even greater reluctance by the Legislature to provide significant funds for substance abuse treatment for both children and adults. Furthermore, lawmakers failed to create a proposed Governor's Substance Abuse Task Force and failed to require health insurers to provide a level of benefits for substance abuse comparable to those provided for other health problems. We must get serious about the drug epidemic, and it starts with marijuana. Perhaps we need a referendum to determine how people feel about legalization. Rep. Colleen Meyer R-45th DistrictLegalize Marijuana and Bring It Under Regulation:If it's true that no more than 300 people in Hawaii would qualify for the use of medical marijuana in Hawaii, then the change in law is, at best, tokenism and, at worst, the usual authoritarian "up yours" to the will of the people.Despite this insane oppression of marijuana users, the medicinal euphoria thrives. How many of us who are living in fear of being "busted" have been, would be or are currently midnight closet tokers?Like alcohol and cigarettes, sensible regulation and control of the market is the answer to so much of what ails us here in Hawaii. Legalize!Steve ReiffKalaheo, Kauai Published: May 27, 2000© 2000 Honolulu Star-BulletinRelated Articles:Medical Marijuana Stand Clarifiedhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5840.shtmlMarijuana Bill Misunderstood http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5664.shtmlMedical Marijuana OK Shows True Compassionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5544.shtmlHawaii Lawmakers Approve Bill on Med. Use of Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5518.shtmlCannabisNews Hemp Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/hemp.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #7 posted by jennifer horn on March 20, 2001 at 11:49:49 PT:
where do you get your facts
The benefits of legalizing marijuana are strincking andobvious to me. When doing research to write essays that areinformed and authoritative it is important to be able tosite reputable and unbiased sources. It would be of greathelp to those who are responsibly going about saving tax $and helping the environment through the use of hepm (whichis not the same as marijuana) to site any info. given sothat another person can include those facts in theirargument. I encourage all of those who are interested injustice and the future of the environment and our childrento write to representitives and government officialsinformative papers with sitings of unbiased and factualresearch. Thanks.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by CD1 on May 30, 2000 at 08:35:24 PT
INCREASE IN DRUG USE
So, there is a big increase in drug use for kids under the age of thirteen. How interesting! So, just where is all our tax dollars going? Obviously the war on drugs isn't working. Those silly television commercials aren't working. Even the DEA's attempt to influence us through television programs (Cosby, ER, et. al.) isn't working. SO QUIT SPENDING MY TAX MONEY ON THE DEA. Legalization is the only answer. Regulate it like alchohol or tobacco, and the use among kids will stop. Stop the hypocrisy. 
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #5 posted by Tennage Potsmoker on May 29, 2000 at 21:03:32 PT
Suck it!
You forget to mention that weed is still not the most widely used drug among teenagers. YOUR legal alcohol is! GO AFTER THE DISTILLERS! and quit attacking a drug less harful then caffine!!!!
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on May 29, 2000 at 15:38:42 PT:
Another "Pot and Kettle" game
Look at who wrote this LTE. A pol. A pol who wonders aloud: Are we poised to legalize marijuana? Who is pushing this agenda? Are political contributions involved? These questions must be answered.Yes, they must be answered, and after they are, how about answering some questions, yourself, Ms. Meyer? Like who helped to contribute to your election campaign...and why? Any soft money involved? Can you name the contributors? Did they have an agenda other than the ostensible sweet altruism of wanting to see you in a position of power where you might 'do good'?'Last session, legislators approved the growing of industrial hemp. This session we approved the concept of medical marijuana. Both bills were strongly opposed by law enforcement agencies.'Ah yes, those staunch preservers of the people's liberties, the police... who have been dealt a stinging blow by the assembly out there to curtail their arial Peeping Tom activities, trampling people's property and otherwise making nuisances of themselves in pursuit of the dreaded pakalolo plant. Whose only dangerous side effect may be obesity from stuffing one's face to quell munchies. Is that what you mean by:'Marijuana still poses a great threat to our children's safety and well-being'...? And readily available alcohol isn't?This last point is the real killer, though. It is the final stroke of a masochist who thinks, after having delineated the actions of her assembly as being essentially pro-cannabis, mistakenly thinks said assembly actually *shares her beliefs*. Talk about being out of touch with reality: 'We must get serious about the drug epidemic, and it starts with marijuana. Perhaps we need a referendum to determine how people feel about legalization.' After this remark, I can imagine the spin doctors are gyrating and contorting themselves this very minute. The Republican Party of which she is a member is probably backpedalling even as I write this: "Oh no, Ms. Meyer wasn't suggesting at all that marijuana legalization be a matter of referendum! (Can't have the people deciding their own governance, now can we?) Ms. Meyer was only speaking in support of our present laws (which don't do a lick of good) and our good friends the LEOs' (who will be taking a substantial hit in the wallet because of the Assemby's denial of anti-MJ efforts)! Ms. Meyer, if you really wish to shoot yourself in the foot, please be my guest. You will have had plenty of company over the last 63 years. I hope the good people of the State of Hawaii hold her feet to the fire by taking her facile suggestion and running with it. 
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #3 posted by Dankhank on May 29, 2000 at 15:13:49 PT:
Law Enforcement says?
Why would we EVER care what Law Enforcement thinks about legalization?That's like asking the fox about security for the chicken house.Law Enforcement will ALWAYS be for prohibion, it is good job security.Why would we care what they say?
HEMP n STUFF
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #2 posted by J Christen-Mitchell on May 29, 2000 at 12:06:37 PT:
Imagine
1932-The States fail to ratify a Constitutional Amendment to repeal the Volstead Act. Alcohol remains illegal by federal decree..1937-Authorities, frustrated by their inability to supress alcohol use, target users.1955-Unable to control alcohol, legislators pass laws mandating harsher penalties.1970-In spite of falling crime rates, eager pols incite the populace with lurid stories of alcoholism and renew Alc Wars1974-Medicinal Cannabis developments continue promised cancer and alcoholism treatment research.1977-A new tool by demagogues is created in an effort to appear tough on crime. Seizure without any criminal charges filed becomes a popular revenue generator among police.1982-Huge increase in teen use prompts agressive enforcement and harsher penalties. Constitution riddled with Alc War Exemptions.1986-Spending on prisons eclipses state spending on higher education.1989-Underground science creates new form of alcohol in response to prohibition, scores die. (crink?)1992-Newspapers are now controlled so as to supress negative Information in the War on Alcohol.1995-Zero tolerance prompts pee testing for 75% of businesses. Teens are regularly expelled for any hint of drink use.1999-US now leads world with per capita incarcerations. Murder and violent crime rate have increased steadily, yet propaganda increases. Alcohol arrests are not reported with other crime statistics.2000-Further legislation passed which censors the internet, provides for even harsher penalties for bathtub tub gin and allows the federal government to expand the DEA (drinking enforcement agency) and mandate secret searches of anyones home or business.2015-War on alcohol succeeds. Too bad 12% of population is now behind bars and Gospel and Country music is the only thing allowed. 
[ Post Comment ]

Comment #1 posted by Just Me on May 29, 2000 at 10:51:28 PT
OOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYGGGGOOODDDD
THE CCCCCCCHHHHHHIIIIILLLLDDDRRRRRRRUUUUUUNNNNNN!!!!!!!!We were all children JACKASS!!Regulate it and tax it, you pathetic putzes! Because an illegal substance merchant doesn't ask for ID!!!
[ Post Comment ]

Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: