Dear Editor,
Re: “School board joins anti-pot push,” News, Nov. 15.
This week, the Richmond News reported that five of the seven board members “fully supported” the move to oppose the legislation of non-medicinal marijuana.
Although I was one of the five who voted in favour of trustee Jonathan Ho’s motion, I would like to clarify that my support was for the proposed regulations put forward by Richmond city council (“if legalization is to proceed”).
As for opposing the legalization of the non-medical use of marijuana, my opposition was directed to its use by those under the age of 19 (which I have no doubt, will be part of any legislation).
But for those 19 years or older, I do not feel it is my place as an elected Board of Education trustee to tell them what “activities” they can or cannot do.
If they choose to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes or gamble (and if legalized, smoke/ingest marijuana), that is their decision, and they do so at their own risk.
Trustee Ho’s motion also talked about the “’wrong message” that legalizing marijuana would send out.
I would go one step further and say that our society sends out many mixed messages when it comes to alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc.
If these things are so bad for us, why, at the age of 19, does it become legal to use or participate in them?
For the record, I do not want our students/your children smoking marijuana, any more than I want them drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes or gambling.
But legislation or prohibition is probably not the answer (how well is it working for distracted driving?).
The key to reducing/eliminating the use of harmful substances is education.
Telling our students that “it’s against the law — so don’t do it,” is not nearly as effective as explaining to them what marijuana is and what harm it can cause you.
Give the kids credit.
If we give them the information and the opportunity to figure it out, many of them will.
Ken Hamaguchi
Richmond school trustee
