29th Street Ballroom
When Pot Becomes Legal ...
RECEIVED Thu., Nov. 9, 2006
Dear Editor,
I really enjoyed your article regarding the THC studies [“Reefer Madness,” News, Nov. 3]. As a father of the age of 37, I can say the only reason I do not encourage my children to enjoy Mary Jane is because it is illegal.
My father was and still is a drinker. When I was a teenager, my father let us have a beer or other drinks around the house. The rules were simply. 1) If you are under the influence like me, you will not leave the house. You will not put others in jeopardy because you wish to enjoy a drink. This was to avoid drinking and driving. 2) If in any way your behavior got out of hand, and you did not know how to control yourself, you would not have another drink the rest of the evening, and you must prove to him you were responsible enough to enjoy another drink at another time by keeping yourself under control. Because of this example, I enjoy alcohol, and Mary Jane, with moderation, and I also take responsibility for my actions by not putting myself in situations where I will harm others. My 4-year-old son and my 11-year-old daughter have seen and been in settings with my wife and myself where alcohol flowed, we keep the MJ behind doors so that we do not do anything illegal in front of the children.
When MJ becomes legal, this will change, and they will see a responsible man using a substance in moderation and enjoying it responsibly. My children will not use MJ or any other drug without my knowledge until they are 18. Why you ask? Because I'm their father, and I say so. Unlike some parents in this world, I will not have the schools or any other entity raise my children. If more parents would set a good example for their kids and take responsibility for them, not only will we have no abuse by the children, they will grow up with a healthy respect for any vice type behavior and enjoy these things in a responsible light. I don't need a rat survey to tell me how to raise my kid. If the government really wants to stop any underage drug use, stop talking to the kids, and start telling parents to be parents. I support your efforts, and thanks for a great article.
I really enjoyed your article regarding the THC studies [“Reefer Madness,” News, Nov. 3]. As a father of the age of 37, I can say the only reason I do not encourage my children to enjoy Mary Jane is because it is illegal.
My father was and still is a drinker. When I was a teenager, my father let us have a beer or other drinks around the house. The rules were simply. 1) If you are under the influence like me, you will not leave the house. You will not put others in jeopardy because you wish to enjoy a drink. This was to avoid drinking and driving. 2) If in any way your behavior got out of hand, and you did not know how to control yourself, you would not have another drink the rest of the evening, and you must prove to him you were responsible enough to enjoy another drink at another time by keeping yourself under control. Because of this example, I enjoy alcohol, and Mary Jane, with moderation, and I also take responsibility for my actions by not putting myself in situations where I will harm others. My 4-year-old son and my 11-year-old daughter have seen and been in settings with my wife and myself where alcohol flowed, we keep the MJ behind doors so that we do not do anything illegal in front of the children.
When MJ becomes legal, this will change, and they will see a responsible man using a substance in moderation and enjoying it responsibly. My children will not use MJ or any other drug without my knowledge until they are 18. Why you ask? Because I'm their father, and I say so. Unlike some parents in this world, I will not have the schools or any other entity raise my children. If more parents would set a good example for their kids and take responsibility for them, not only will we have no abuse by the children, they will grow up with a healthy respect for any vice type behavior and enjoy these things in a responsible light. I don't need a rat survey to tell me how to raise my kid. If the government really wants to stop any underage drug use, stop talking to the kids, and start telling parents to be parents. I support your efforts, and thanks for a great article.
Terry Newton