Just say no to medical marijuana

As a grandparent, I am taking a stand against so-called “medical marijuana.” Today, more teens are smoking marijuana than are smoking cigarettes, according to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Survey.

The rise in use among 8th, 10th and 12th-grade students corresponds to the favorable attitudes young people have toward the drug. More teens have the perception that marijuana is not harmful because they are being told it is a “medicine.”

Marijuana is addictive. How many children do we want to put into treatment? Marijuana accounts for the most adolescent drug treatment admissions, including alcohol.

In Los Angeles where medical marijuana is permitted, marijuana has surpassed alcohol as the major cause for treatment at public treatment centers, and 60 percent of this group is under 18.

State legislators don't seem concerned about Illinois' young people because they are considering another vote on “medical marijuana” after the bill was voted down two times in the last two months.

“Medical marijuana” laws make marijuana more accessible to young people and send the wrong message. Please call your legislators and tell them to vote no on SB1381, the medical cannabis bill. This is about Illinois youth.

Joyce Lohrentz

Naperville