From pot to tanning, legislators talk health
Thursday, June 4th, 2009
By: Bill Cook
bcook@whyy.org
Delaware's Legislative Hall was abuzz with activity yesterday from the Senate floor to the Governor's office.
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Some of the most spirited action took place in the Senate Hearing Room, where the Health and Social Services Committee addressed a couple of hot topics: medical marijuana and indoor tanning.
Senate bill 90 would ban indoor tanning for anyone under the age of 14 and restrict use for those between 14 and 17.
Jeanne Chiquoine of the American Cancer Society:
Chiquoine: UV radiation is a risk for skin cancer and we certainly want people to be aware of that and this bill is an educational bill that lets people know that there is a risk to using tanning salon.
The committee also listened to arguments mostly for a bill that would legalize marijuana for medical use.
Both bills made it out of committee, although there could be some minor changes before the bills go to the House and Senate floor.
Living behind enemy line on native soil, the same complex that created slavery still in affect, we know, we've learned, let's come together in the real world and act, no demonstrations, no rallys, no speeches, action!
Legalize it. Treat it like alcohol plain and simple. End black market and violence.
I’m so sick of the Gateway Drug Argument. Alcohol is the ULTIMATE GATEWAY DRUG. It’s probably 90% of people’s first buzz. And if they like it, the want more. None of my successful friends that smoke got into heavy drugs like coke.
It's a shame that the people who get addicted and kill themselves with crack & cocaine get wrapped in the same category as an adult that want to smoke a joint on a Friday night….. What a weird world.
Once it’s legal it will be exciting for the first 3 months. After that, the people who smoke now, will probably smoke the same amount. And the people who won’t, simply won’t. Not much will change.
And if treated like alcohol. Kids will have as much access to it as a 6 pack of beer. In otherwords, if regulated, kids can’t get it.
So legalize it. And to the folks that say NO and that have never done it, what right do they have to judge it?