Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999
Subject: USA Today Debate On Truth And Marijuana
DrugSense FOCUS Alert #137 November 24, 1999
USA Today Debate On Truth And Marijuana
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DrugSense FOCUS Alert #137 November 24, 1999
Last week, USA Today offered a brief but interesting debate on
parental attitudes toward marijuana. In answer to the question “What
Should You Tell Your Kids About Your Drug Use?” the newspaper printed
two oped pieces. One suggested honesty regarding marijuana use (DEAR
PARENTS WITH FOGGY MEMORIES: PLEASE DON’T PRETEND YOU NEVER INHALED
available at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1245/a04.html). The
author of the other piece wrote that young people should be informed
that spiritual poverty explains marijuana use, though, he does not
explicitly call for lying about drug use(GLAMORIZING OUR PAST
COMPOUNDS MISTAKES http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99.n1245.a03.html)
Yesterday, USA Today printed three letters regarding the call for
parents to be honest about marijuana. All the published letters can be
found below, and put together they represent a second round of debate
about this aspect of drug policy. In order to encourage USA Today to
offer more side by side arguments about drug policy issues, please
write a letter to the newspaper. The letter could simply thank USA
Today for bringing these issues before the public, or the letter could
respond to any aspect of the two debates.
Thanks for your effort and support.
WRITE A LETTER TODAY
It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do
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PLEASE SEND US A COPY OF YOUR LETTER OR TELL US WHAT YOU DID ( Letter,
Phone, fax etc.)
Please post a copy your letter or report your action to the MAPTalk
list if you are subscribed, or by E-mailing a copy directly to
MGreer@mapinc.org Your letter will then be forwarded to the list with
so others can learn from your efforts and be motivated to follow suit
This is VERY IMPORTANT as it is the only way we have of gauging our
impact and effectiveness.
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CONTACT INFO
Source: USA Today (US)
Contact: editor@usatoday.com
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Newshawk: MAP editors Rock!
Pubdate: Mon, 22 Nov 1999
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 1999 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Page: 27A – Lead Letter
Contact: editor@usatoday.com
Address: 1000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22229
Fax: (703) 247-3108
Website: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nfront.htm
Author: Stephen S. Heath
Note: Yes, Steve is a part of the MAP editing/posting team.
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1245/a04.html
BE HONEST WITH CHILDREN ABOUT PAST ‘POT’ EXPERIENCE
Columnist Patricia Pearson is right on the money on why we should be
honest with our children, rather than lying about or exaggerating our
experiences with marijuana (“What should you tell your kids about your
drug use? Dear Parents with foggy memories: Please don’t pretend you
never inhaled.” The Forum, Wednesday).
It would behoove us to be more honest with each other as adults
also.
The Clinton administration’s drug czar Barry McCaffrey continues to
insist on telling American adults that any and all use of marijuana
will lead the country down an inexorable slope to ruin. He repeatedly
presents images of stoned schoolchildren and crazed drivers.
This despite the obvious successes of millions of Americans who may
use or have used marijuana.
Lying to adults makes no more sense than lying to children. Pearson’s
column is a refreshing reminder that freedom has nothing to fear from
the truth.
Stephen S. Heath
Largo, Fla.
Newshawk: http://www.csdp.org/factbook/marijuan.htm
Pubdate: Mon, 22 Nov 1999
Source: USA Today (US)
Copyright: 1999 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Page: 27A
Contact: editor@usatoday.com
Address: 1000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22229
Fax: (703) 247-3108
Website: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nfront.htm
Authors: Robert W. DeStefano, Jim Webster
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v99/n1245/a04.html
‘IRRESPONSIBLE’ COMMENTARY
The article by Patricia Pearson is one of the most irresponsible
articles to ever appear on USA TODAY’s editorial pages.
Did I miss something recently? Aren’t the drugs referred to in this
article illegal for everyone in the United States? Don’t we have a
nationwide campaign to reduce drug use in this country, especially
among children?
It might not be surprising to find flagrant advertising for
“recreational” drug use in an underground paper, but not USA TODAY.
Jim Webster
Arroyo Grande, Calif.
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IGNORANCE ABOUT ADDICTION
I am constantly amazed at the level of ignorance expressed by
otherwise intelligent people when it comes to drugs and/or alcohol.
In Patricia Pearson’s article, this ignorance has been given voice
once more.
She claims that ”the difference between self-abuse and recreational
pot smoking is so widely and tacitly understood that only . . .
‘experts’ ” miss the point. The fact is that pot smoking is no less
dangerous to someone suffering an addictive illness than heroin or
crack cocaine.
Pearson’s claim that ”you never see a ‘pot addict’ who drains his
life savings to feed the habit” indicates that she has not looked too
hard. As someone who suffers from an addictive illness, I see such
people all of the time. Neither are they few and far between.
Pearson also claims that ”pot is like alcohol: People undone by it
usually are trying to undo themselves because something in their lives
is too painful.” Would she make the same claim about someone
suffering from diabetes or cancer? Do these sufferers ”undo
themselves” as well?
I sometimes find it difficult to believe that even as this century
draws to a close, so many still passionately cling to antiquated ideas
about drugs and alcohol, ideas that are in complete opposition to that
which is accepted by medical science. Politicians who use this topic
for political gain exacerbate such misunderstanding.
The facts seem to be these: There are people who suffer from addictive
illnesses. For many of them, any drug and/or alcohol is extremely
dangerous. Then, there is the rest of society. For these folks, most
drugs and/or alcohol are fairly safe when used responsibly.
Perhaps it would be more appropriate to educate our children about
addictive illnesses and their symptoms, rather than categorically
state that one drug is safe, while another is not. The safety of a
recreational drug is far more dependent upon the health of the person
taking it.
Robert W. DeStefano
Pontiets, Wales
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SAMPLE LETTER (sent)
The letter “Be honest with children about past ‘pot’ experience” was a
great expression of common sense. Lying has always been considered
immoral – there’s even a commandment against it. Why should marijuana
be an exception? The truth did not seem as highly valued in the letter
“`Irresponsible’ Commentary.” By suggesting it is appropriate to lie
to our children, the author clearly expressed his own lack of honesty
with himself. Will thinking and saying enough bad things about
marijuana make it go away? All our past experience indicates that it
will not.
Thanks to USA Today for placing these two perspectives side by side.
When compared, they illustrate an early moral lessons hopefully
learned by children: honesty is the best policy.
Stephen Young
IMPORTANT: Always include your address and telephone
number
Please note: If you choose to use this letter as a model please modify it
at least somewhat so that the paper does not receive numerous copies of the
same letter and so that the original author receives credit for his/her work.
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ADDITIONAL INFO to help you in your letter writing
efforts
3 Tips for Letter Writers http://www.mapinc.org/3tips.htm
Letter Writers Style Guide http://www.mapinc.org/style.htm
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Prepared by Stephen Young – http://home.att.net/~theyoungfamily Focus
Alert Specialist