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Letter to the Editor – Re “Smoker’s Choice”

Photo courtesy of www.sxc.hu
Photo courtesy of www.sxc.hu
Photo courtesy of www.sxc.hu
Photo courtesy of www.sxc.hu

TO THE EDITOR:

The December 4, 2009 edition of Inklings contained a front page article entitled, “Smoker’s Choice.” 

While I know the intention of the article was neither to promote the use of marijuana nor to condone its use, some adults in the community who have seen the article have contended that it appears the article does just that, i.e., it encourages marijuana use as an alternative to the smoking of cigarettes.

I am writing to encourage you to prepare a follow-up that succinctly expresses your intent, which was simply to report the results of a random poll of students attending Staples High School, and was not designed to advocate the acceptability of marijuana use among students. 

In fact, within the article, contrary to the perception of the critics, you make clear that “today’s marijuana can be nearly five times more powerful and dangerous than what was smoked in the seventies….[leading] to higher addiction rates.”

I believe it important that you assert publicly in the next publication of Inklings that it is a commonly held belief among students and the administrative, teaching and support staffs at Staples High School that both marijuana use and cigarette smoking are harmful to one’s health and should be avoided. 

John Dodig,
Principal of Staples High School
Dr.  Elliott Landon,
Superintendent of Westport Schools

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    DanDec 21, 2009 at 8:59 am

    Obviously the best choice is to not drink or do any drugs… However, as long as people have access to them, drugs will be used. I have to call BS on the whole marijuana producing 50-70% more cancerous hydrocarbons than tobacco. Marijuana itself is actually by far the safest out of the three (alcohol and tobacco). As far as cancer, if you light anything on fire and inhale it of course its bad for your lungs and going to cause cancer. Inhaling anything that is burning is dumb period, its not the marijuana itself. In fact there have been many studies done that completely contradict the studies that have been done by the government and related agencies. For example this study done by researchers at Harvard University that found that cannabis may have significant value in treating tumors and lung cancer. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/0704
    Not to mention it is proven that it has significant medical value for a variety of conditions from treating pain and depression to helping people with Multiple Sclerosis and increasing appetites for cancer patients and anorexia.

    In my opinion its kind of ridiculous that something like cannabis is considered a schedule 1 narcotic and alcohol and tobacco are legal. When was the last time you heard of somebody smoking a joint and than going home and beating his wife and kids? Very very very rare, in fact I have never heard of any incidents marijuana induced violence . I can't say the same about alcohol. 

    Do the research make, make your own decision, and if your going to do it invest in a vaporizer or make some brownies and save your lungs.

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