Misinformation about marijuana, such as the recent column by Robert Margolis, actually hurts the cause of those against the drug.
When I was a kid, I looked up marijuana in an old encyclopedia and read that it was a highly addictive drug that made the user want to commit violent acts. As I looked around and saw that none of my friends were terrorizing society or going through any withdrawal throes, I concluded that the info was just another scare tactic of the older generation.
The article makes some good points about marijuana’s effects, especially about students and concentration, but coupled with the absurd statement about addiction, the editorial sabotages itself.
If you want kids off marijuana, stress how it kills motivation and concentration at a time when they need both attributes. Trying to scare them with a false claim about addiction merely amuses them and has a reverse affect. They’re just not buying the idea.
02 Jan 2003