Pubdate: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 Source: Richmond News (CN BC) Copyright: 2010, Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.richmond-news.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1244 Author: Michelle Rainey Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n227/a13.html BE HONEST WITH OUR KIDS The Editor, Re: "Marijuana far from harmless," Family Function, March 26. After reading Danielle Aldcorn's uneducated article about the harms associated with cannabis and teens it is blatantly obvious we have a lot more serious issues to deal with. Her question, "What do you know about delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, TCH for short?" (The correct term is THC) just proves the lack of knowledge or research done. Today's teens know everything and how to find it due to the Internet, cell phones, and mass media. It is impossible to hide the harsh realities of our world and then be bombarded with constant pressures from friends, family, and school. Kids are self-medicating with junk food, video games, tobacco, sex, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals. Reports from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada 2009 indicate this generation of teenagers is already suffering from high cholesterol and high blood pressure at an alarming rate. We need to be honest with our children in order for them to make the right choices. Marijuana may be harmful to some individuals, but it has been proven beneficial to millions in North America who do use it medicinally. Canada and 14 states in the U.S. all operate legal medical marijuana programs. California is on the verge of full legalization, taxation, and regulation, which Canada needs to emulate. If any teenager needs counselling, I do hope that they receive honest answers, not perpetuated propaganda because as said before 'they know everything'! Michelle Rainey Maple Ridge - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D