Reading a recent article regarding a state official's presentation concerning marijuana and teens, I am reminded of the difficulties parents have when dealing with the issue of marijuana use and how articles such as the one in the March 25 issue of the Leader miss the mark.

The story was about a presentation that was given by Scott McCarty, prevention system grant manager and marijuana lead in the state Department of Social and Health Service's Division of Behavior Health and Recovery, and while his title might sound impressive, his presentation was not.

McCarty's claims of permanent brain damage are not substantiated as a quick Google search, that any teen can do, will prove. Declarations like “Marijuana doesn’t kill brain cells – alcohol does – but marijuana makes them uncoordinated,” McCarty is quoted as saying.

I'm no brain surgeon but "uncoordinated brain cells" sounds a bit sketchy to me.
 McCarty goes on to make baseless claims such as marijuana being addictive, and that "There is nothing more genetically modified than marijuana." Any teen with a computer can do research that will disprove both of those statements. Marijuana can be habit-forming, true, but it is not in the common use of the term, addicting; and, marijuana has been selectively bred, but not genetically modified.

Whitney Meissner, Chimacum Prevention Coalition chair and Chimacum High School principal said, “Being able to talk about the tough stuff is one of the most important things we need to do as parents and community members.”

While I totally agree with Meissner I would suggest that having a presentation using half truths and outright disinformation regarding marijuana will be of little assistance when talking to our teens.

LOUIS HIGHTOWER

Port Ludlow