APPROACH TO DRUGS DELUSIONAL

The Dec. 28 article "Police: 'Nosy' Mom Foils Drug Deal" [Connecticut
section] is another in a long line of stories about the so-called war on drugs.

Of the more than 1.7 million drug arrests this year, more than 700,000
will be for marijuana. Hundreds of thousands of those arrested will be
under the age of 18.

Why do we continue to give our children unlimited access to this drug
and then punish them for obtaining it? After almost a century of
prohibition of this drug, it is still so popular, but we as parents
continue to believe it is not. Why do we still say we are being smart
on crime when we are actually being stupid on crime? Why do we think
our young people are stupid?

Our young people know that adults have become delusional in their
approach to drugs. This is why our youths have such a hard time with
adult culture: Marijuana is part of our culture, and we as adults will
not recognize this.

Young brains can't handle marijuana. Like sex and alcohol, the
decision about whether to take a toke should be reserved for people
with proper seasoning: old enough to vote, finished with high school
and stepping into adulthood.

Let's be smart on drugs and bring them inside of the
law.

Clifford Wallace Thornton

President

Efficacy

Hartford

Efficacy is a nonprofit organization focued on solving social
problems.