Readers React: Anxious parents are no reason to keep marijuana illegal

To the editor: The article provides several examples of a substantial increase in the demand from parents and community groups for resources to discuss marijuana usage with kids post-legalization in Colorado. (“For some parents, legalization complicates how to talk about pot,” Sept. 1)

Why has legalization of marijuana increased the desire to communicate with children about drug abuse? Most of us might initially agree with intervention specialist Kelly Kerby, who was quoted as saying, “We’re making it legal and that means it’s OK.”

However, parents are now seeing the great difference between “legal” and “OK.”

“Legal” is the lowest common denominator agreeable to the majority. “OK” is the higher standard each individual must set to achieve happiness; it includes personal decisions on religion, responsible drug use and more.

Each individual has a unique background, and so their decisions to achieve happiness will be unique. Attempts to regulate these unique choices to a common legal standard breed disrespect for the law and government.

Teaching our children the difference between “legal” and “OK,” and the need for each individual to make responsible decisions, would be a major step in combating drug abuse and many other social ills.

Mark Johnston, Huntington Beach

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To the editor: It appears that Pandora’s box is filled with weed. Now that marijuana is legal in Colorado and Washington, the people of those states are experiencing the results of open use of a mind-altering substance.

Ask hard-core drug users how they got started, and you will hear many say they began their spiral with a hit from a joint.

As more states jump on the pot bandwagon, the vision that the rest of the world has of the United States will be very similar to the image published alongside the article: thousands of people sprawled out along a beach getting high together.

Christopher Grisanti, Monrovia

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To the editor: Pot and alcohol, like Zoloft and Prozac, are chemicals that people ingest to alter their moods. Although they are often embarrassed to admit it, many people suffer from some degree of anxiety, depression, lack of confidence or low self-esteem.

If you or your friends are attracted to these chemicals, understand that what you really need is psychotherapy. The self-help section of the library is a good place to start. A

licensed therapist is even better.

But don’t be fooled by ads for alcohol and songs celebrating pot use: Emotionally healthy people don’t need drugs. Lighting a joint is a confession that something is wrong inside.

Brent Forrester, Los Angeles