Reader: John Suthers may make public think people for marijuana reform hate children

• Very well stated.

• A good realistic view- teens are going to end up at parties, and we should tell them the truth- because if they find out on their own it will discredit the rest of the standards they were taught, which is far more dangerous then marijuana ever was to begin with.

• If you look at the past 15 years of scientific studies on marijuana from around the world- we have started to really find the mechanisms at play with marijuana, and coincidently modern science is not on the side of prohibitionist. We know of at least 3 mechanisms that fight/prevent cancer, we have learned that cannabinoids are neurprotectants and protect from heart attack and stroke, while also being blood flow regulator that helps recover and prevent all three named ailments. Repairing the p53 gene is the most notable ability, its effect works on 100% of cells in any type of tumor, and 50% of all types of cancer- of course you really could not take enough for it to be a single cure for cancer- but realistically it can slow and reduce size by 40-60% throughout the body, while statistically lowering risk. The point is- marijuana needs to be rescheduled and dealt with as we do food and drugs- not as a law enforcement issue. The money spent just against marijuana could revolutionize our nations drug treatment centers with funding- and give heavy funds for education and further research. But this will never happen until the DEA head can acknowledge that marijuana has at least 1 medical value and oks the rescheduling so the AMA can do all the research they have been clamoring to do for the past decade (outspokenly). That is the best option for having less kids using drugs. Old wives tales no longer deter when modern information far more convincingly tells otherwise.

• Interesting takes, all. Thanks for reading and sharing your views.

• The results that we're discussing vis a vis youth tobacco use rates and cannabis use rates are more accurately credited to the steady reduction of tobacco smoking. The US reached peak tobacco and since has cut the per capita usage by over 62%. This was accomplished without making tobacco illegal for adults.

• The funny thing is most parents think cannabis is far worse for their children than other legal substances. Cannabis has never killed anyone because it contains no toxins. Those legal substances kill people daily. Sounds to me like the kids are making a more rational choice to use cannabis rather than other substances that are far more dangerous. They have probably figured out that - for one - cannabis does not give one a hangover. Parents, ya got it backwards. It's alcohol and tobacco that are dangerous to the kid's health. Don't get me wrong, I do not support kids consuming anything not approved by their doctor or parents. But, if they are going to party, they could make far worse choices than cannabis.

• Couldn't agree more John.

• As far as I can tell its the proabitionist that hate children. Pot is easier for them to get than both booze and tobacco. Why? Lack of regulation for a high demand market. If demand is still high after 70 years it's not going away any time soon. If pot is Americas largest cash crop then for cryin out loud place some regulations on it rather than staying the current course and expecting different results. It's the reefer madnes crowd that is handing our youth the pot but they are to ignorant to see it for what it really is. Legalize and regulate is the only way we are ever going to get a grip on this situation.

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